Process for producing butyrolactones of the general formula I where R1 and R2 are each hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted trialkylsilyl, by reacting alkynes of the general formula II where R1 and R2 are each as defined above, with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a rhodium catalyst under pressures from 20 to 300 bar and hydrogenating the unhydrogenated 2(5H)-furanone intermediates comprises a) reacting the carbonylation reaction mixture with hydrogen at from 150 to 250° C. and from 100 to 300 bar, b) removing the precipitated catalyst and returning it into the carbonylation reaction, and c) subjecting the catalyst-free reaction mixture to a distillation to recover the butyrolactone.