Method for operating an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a voltage generator and a spark gap for generating an ignition spark, characterized by the steps of: - identifying a spark break and/or a misfire by the steps of - ascertaining a secondary-side current or a secondary-side voltage, - ascertaining whether an overshooting condition is satisfied, wherein the overshooting condition is satisfied when a change in the secondary-side current overshoots a predetermined first threshold value, or when the secondary-side voltage overshoots a predetermined second threshold value, - ascertaining whether an ignition condition is satisfied by way of ascertaining whether there is no ignitable mixture in a combustion space of an internal combustion engine, wherein the ignition condition is satisfied when there is no ignitable mixture in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, - in response to this generating a conductive path by an ignition spark at the spark gap in a suitable working cycle of the internal combustion engine when the overshooting condition and the ignition condition are satisfied, wherein the suitable working cycle is a working cycle (I, II, III, IV), - in which working and/or expulsion of liquid from a combustion chamber which contains the spark gap take/takes place, and/or - in which intake and/or compression take/takes place and in which the residual energy which is stored in one or more electrical energy stores of the ignition system lies below a predetermined threshold value. - identifying a spark break and/or a misfire by the steps of - ascertaining a secondary-side current or a secondary-side voltage, - ascertaining whether an overshooting condition is satisfied, wherein the overshooting condition is satisfied when a change in the secondary-side current overshoots a predetermined first threshold value, or when the secondary-side voltage overshoots a predetermined second threshold value, - ascertaining whether an ignition condition is satisfied by way of ascertaining whether there is no ignitable mixture in a combustion space of an internal combustion engine, wherein the ignition condition is satisfied when there is no ignitable mixture in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, - ascertaining a secondary-side current or a secondary-side voltage, - ascertaining whether an overshooting condition is satisfied, wherein the overshooting condition is satisfied when a change in the secondary-side current overshoots a predetermined first threshold value, or when the secondary-side voltage overshoots a predetermined second threshold value, - ascertaining whether an ignition condition is satisfied by way of ascertaining whether there is no ignitable mixture in a combustion space of an internal combustion engine, wherein the ignition condition is satisfied when there is no ignitable mixture in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, - in response to this generating a conductive path by an ignition spark at the spark gap in a suitable working cycle of the internal combustion engine when the overshooting condition and the ignition condition are satisfied, wherein the suitable working cycle is a working cycle (I, II, III, IV), - in which working and/or expulsion of liquid from a combustion chamber which contains the spark gap take/takes place, and/or - in which intake and/or compression take/takes place and in which the residual energy which is stored in one or more electrical energy stores of the ignition system lies below a predetermined threshold value. - in which working and/or expulsion of liquid from a combustion chamber which contains the spark gap take/takes place, and/or - in which intake and/or compression take/takes place and in which the residual energy which is stored in one or more electrical energy stores of the ignition system lies below a predetermined threshold value.