The influence of the orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition near room temperature in the poling process of KNN-modified piezoceramics was studied. Poling temperatures of 25 degrees and 120 degrees C were used. The percentage of 90 degrees domains reorientation induced by poling was evaluated trough X-ray diffraction analysis. The improvement of the piezoelectric properties when the poling temperature was 25 degrees C could not be explained by the reorientation of 90 degrees domains alone. Raman spectroscopy evidenced that the polarization process was assisted by the stabilization of orthorhombic phase, which promotes a stress reduction in the material.