The kinetics of nitrous oxide decomposition on an overexchanged Cu-ZSM-5 catalyst were measured using a gradientless reactor. Isothermal oscillations of nitrous oxide and oxygen concentrations can be observed in a broad range of experimental conditions. A transition of the catalytic activity during oscillations is accompanied by a change in the oxygen content of the catalyst and by the formation of traces of nitric oxide. The presence of excess oxygen does not significantly alter the behaviour of the catalyst whereas NO concentrations as low as 10 ppm quench the oscillations in the whole temperature range studied (375 to 450 degrees C), maintaining steady-state operation at maximum catalytic activity. Reaction rates in this ’ignited’ state are first order with respect to nitrous oxide concentration and not affected by either oxygen or nitric oxide. At temperatures above 400 degrees C, the observed reaction rates are influenced by pore diffusion effects. In the region of intrinsic kinetics, the temperature dependence of the first order rate constant can be described by an activation energy of ca. 100 kJ/mol.