The invention relates to a method for controlling a fuel pump (11), especially an electric fuel pump used in an internal combustion engine. According to the inventive method, a fuel pump priming is initiated before the internal combustion engine itself is started. During control of the fuel pump (11) the control device of the internal combustion engine takes into consideration the fuel volume required or the fuel volume required to replenish the volume of the fuel supply system or a corresponding fuel quantity or fuel mass and carries out a pump priming until the desired volume or the desired quantity or the desired mass that is determined depending on predetermined conditions has been delivered. |