Continuous gas-phase polymerization process for preparing ethylene and propene homopolymers and copolymers, in which ethylene, propene or mixtures comprising ethylene or propene and C₃-C₈--monoolefins are polymerized in the polymerization zone of a gas-phase polymerization reactor at from 30 to 125 C. and pressures of from 1 to 100 bar in the gas phase in a bed comprising finely divided polymer in the presence of a catalyst. To remove the heat of polymerization, the reactor gas is circulated and firstly passes through a cyclone after leaving the reactor. To prevent polymer deposits in the circulating gas system, a catalyst poison having a boiling point above the maximum temperature within the circulating gas system is fed into this circulating gas system at a position between the reactor and the cyclone.