Process for preparing aromatic isocyanates by reacting the corresponding formamides with an oxygen-comprising gas over noble metal catalysts at temperatures of from 300 to 600° C. and a contact time of from 1 to 1000 ms, wherein: a. the formamide is vaporized before entering the reaction zone, b. the reaction mixture obtained is quenched with an alcohol-comprising quenching liquid and c. the urethane formed is dissociated into isocyanate and alcohol.