This work describes a concise manner to make a wide variety of mono- or disubstituted 2-amino isonicotinic acids via the corresponding 2,4-dioxo-carboxylic acid ethyl esters and ethyl 3-amino-3-iminopropionate hydrochloride. The reaction likely proceeds through an in situ decarboxylation process and is reminiscent of the Guareschi-Thorpe Condensation.