Reactivation of hydrotreating catalyst by operating at a temperature in excess of normal operating temperature

A process for the reactivation of deactivated catalyst used in the hydrotreating of a hydrocarbon feedstream, which hydrotreating is conducted within a temperature range from about 500.degree. F. to about 800.degree. F. and a hydrogen partial pressure within the range from about 500 to about 2500 psia, wherein the catalyst comprises a Group VIa and Group VIII metal on a solid porous refractory oxide support of alumina having a pore diameter greater than about 80 A. and up to about 250 A, and wherein said feedstream comprises unfinished petroleum crude scale wax, which process comprises first contacting said catalyst with a mixture of steam containing about 0.2 to about 4 volume percent oxygen at a temperature of about 750.degree. F. to about 1050.degree. F. in a conventional air-steam catalyst regeneration, and then contacting said catalyst with said hydrogen and feedstream at a temperature from about 25.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F. in excess of the normal operating temperature that would be used for said hydrotreating stream, said contacting being conducted for a time that is sufficient to reactivate said catalyst.