Method for carrying out a driver-independent braking operation of a motor vehicle, in which - a desired trajectory of the motor vehicle is ascertained, - a lateral-guiding-force variable representing the lateral guiding force required for guiding the motor vehicle on the desired trajectory is ascertained, - dependent on the lateral-guiding-force variable, a longitudinal-force variable representing the longitudinal force that can be applied as a maximum in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is ascertained and - dependent on the longitudinal-force variable, a braking-force variable representing the braking force of the motor vehicle is set independently of the driver, - wherein the driver-independent braking operation is carried out within a secondary braking system in the event of failure of the primary service braking system, - wherein the secondary braking system is a braking system carrying out braking interventions that are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, - wherein a braking force that can be applied as a maximum when assuming straight-ahead travel is ascertained by means of the evaluation of the output signal of a longitudinal acceleration sensor and, dependent on the ascertained lateral guiding force that is required and the ascertained braking force that can be applied as a maximum, the driver-independent braking force is set, characterized in that an oscillating braking-force variable fluctuation is overlaid on the braking force variable the longitudinal force that can be applied as a maximum is ascertained on the basis of the evaluation of the output signal of a longitudinal acceleration sensor. - a desired trajectory of the motor vehicle is ascertained, - a lateral-guiding-force variable representing the lateral guiding force required for guiding the motor vehicle on the desired trajectory is ascertained, - dependent on the lateral-guiding-force variable, a longitudinal-force variable representing the longitudinal force that can be applied as a maximum in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is ascertained and - dependent on the longitudinal-force variable, a braking-force variable representing the braking force of the motor vehicle is set independently of the driver, - wherein the driver-independent braking operation is carried out within a secondary braking system in the event of failure of the primary service braking system, - wherein the secondary braking system is a braking system carrying out braking interventions that are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, - wherein a braking force that can be applied as a maximum when assuming straight-ahead travel is ascertained by means of the evaluation of the output signal of a longitudinal acceleration sensor and, dependent on the ascertained lateral guiding force that is required and the ascertained braking force that can be applied as a maximum, the driver-independent braking force is set, characterized in that an oscillating braking-force variable fluctuation is overlaid on the braking force variable the longitudinal force that can be applied as a maximum is ascertained on the basis of the evaluation of the output signal of a longitudinal acceleration sensor.