The 8H-thieno[3,2-g]indole (12) and 6H-thieno[3,2-e]indole (16) were easily obtained by the reductive cyclisation of (5-amino-1-benzothien-4-yl)acetonitrile (15) and (7-amino-1-benzothien-6-yl)acetonitrile (11), the latter synthesised via cyanomethylation of 5- and 7-nitrobenzo[b]thiophienes.