A new and simple method for obtaining highly dispersed Co/ZrO2 catalyst is described. The presence of ethylenediamine during the preparation of Co/ZrO2 was studied and compared with a reference catalyst conventionally prepared. Addition of an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine to a cobalt nitrate solution had a dramatic effect on the catalytic performance of the catalyst as compared with a reference catalyst. This promotional effect was explained in terms of higher cobalt dispersion in the catalysts using ethylenediamine. The reason why ethylenediamine improves dispersion of the cobalt species was explained in terms of the size of the stable complex ions which could be formed in situ during impregnation. The best catalytic results were also explained in terms of Co-support interaction since new cobalt species were reducible at lower temperatures.