The effect of intermetallic compound TiAl additions on the combustion synthesis of Ti3AlC2 powder from Ti, Al and C as starting powders has been studied. The experimental results show that the main phase of the combustion product is TiC with very small amount of Ti3AlC2, if the molar ratio of Ti, Al, C is equal to 3:1:2. However, Ti3AlC2 become the main phase with a small amount of TiC if a small amount of TiAl is added to the starting mixtures without changing the overall stoichiometry. The fraction of Ti3AlC2 increases with increasing additions of TiAl to the starting mixtures. The above experimental phenomena were explained through thermodynamic and kinetic analysis.