Method for activating the band drive device of a strapping machine in the event of band loss, the strapping machine comprising: - an insertion-retrieval unit having at least one first pair of rollers, between which the strapping band is led through such that it can be driven by at least one of the rollers in and counter to the insertion direction of the strapping band, - a detector for detecting the leading band end at the end of the insertion travel, and - a re-tensioning unit, arranged before the insertion-retrieval unit in relation to the insertion direction and having a second pair of rollers (18, 19), between which the strapping band can be tensioned by at least one of the rollers counter to the insertion direction around the product to be strapped in the strapping machine, characterized by - interrogation of the detector for proper insertion of the strapping band in the insertion direction as far as the end of the insertion travel, - in the event of improper insertion of the strapping band, activation of the insertion-retrieval unit to retrieve the strapping band at a defined retrieval speed over a defined retrieval time, in such a way that the strapping band has emerged from the insertion-retrieval unit counter to the insertion direction, and - activation of the drive of the re-tensioning unit in such a way that the re-tensioning unit transports the strapping band into the insertion-retrieval unit in the insertion direction, wherein the retrieval speed is at most 50%, preferably 10% to 20%, of the insertion speed, and wherein the defined retrieval time is derived variably in a self-teaching process from the insertion time of the strapping band of one or more of the preceding insertions. - an insertion-retrieval unit having at least one first pair of rollers, between which the strapping band is led through such that it can be driven by at least one of the rollers in and counter to the insertion direction of the strapping band, - a detector for detecting the leading band end at the end of the insertion travel, and - a re-tensioning unit, arranged before the insertion-retrieval unit in relation to the insertion direction and having a second pair of rollers (18, 19), between which the strapping band can be tensioned by at least one of the rollers counter to the insertion direction around the product to be strapped in the strapping machine, - interrogation of the detector for proper insertion of the strapping band in the insertion direction as far as the end of the insertion travel, - in the event of improper insertion of the strapping band, activation of the insertion-retrieval unit to retrieve the strapping band at a defined retrieval speed over a defined retrieval time, in such a way that the strapping band has emerged from the insertion-retrieval unit counter to the insertion direction, and - activation of the drive of the re-tensioning unit in such a way that the re-tensioning unit transports the strapping band into the insertion-retrieval unit in the insertion direction, wherein the retrieval speed is at most 50%, preferably 10% to 20%, of the insertion speed, and wherein the defined retrieval time is derived variably in a self-teaching process from the insertion time of the strapping band of one or more of the preceding insertions.