Let A be a semi-simple Banach
algebra with socle F, and let ν be a homomorphism of A into a Banach algebra. It is
shown that if I is a minimal one-sided ideal of A, then the restriction of v to I is
continuous. This is then used to deduce continuity properties of the restriction of ν to
F. In particular, if F has a bounded left or right approximate identity, then ν is
continuous on F.