4-Phospho-d-erythronate is an intermediate in the synthesis of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate in some bacteria and an inhibitor of ribose 5-phosphate isomerase. Previous synthetic schemes for the preparation of 4-phospho-d-erythronate required expensive precursors and typically gave low yields. We report a straightforward synthesis of 4-phospho-d-erythronate from the inexpensive precursor d-erythronolactone in five steps with a preparatively useful yield of 22%.