A combined spectroscopic and catalytic study on the activity and hydrothermal stability of copper-exchanged MCM-22 and ZSM-5 zeolites is reported; CuMCM-22 is active in the decomposition of NO and N2O also in the presence of water, whereas CuZSM-5 deactivates rapidly upon steaming. CO adsorption on fresh and steamed samples enlightened that the copper active species are more stable on CuMCM-22.