Method for operating an ignition system having the steps of (a) energizing a primary coil of a first voltage generator and interrupting the energization of the primary coil to generate a voltage in a secondary coil of the first voltage generator in order to generate an ignition spark at a spark gap , (b) operating a second voltage generator to support the ignition spark generated by the first voltage generator in order to maintain the generated ignition spark at the spark gap , (c) measuring a spark current (i 2 ) and/or an output voltage (u 2 ) and/or a voltage corresponding to the output voltage on the secondary side of the ignition system , (d) identifying whether a threshold value condition is met by virtue of identifying whether the spark current (i 2 ) undershoots a first threshold value (S1) or whether the output voltage (u 2 ) or the voltage corresponding to the output voltage (u 2 ) exceeds a second threshold value or whether the spark current (i 2 ) is equal to zero or whether the spark current (i 2 ) is equal to zero and is still equal to zero after a predetermined time has passed, characterized by the steps of (e) provided that the threshold value condition is met: (e1) re-energizing the primary coil of the first voltage generator for a predetermined time or until a primary coil current (i ZS ) reaches a predetermined third threshold, then (e2) interrupting the energization of the primary coil to generate a voltage in the secondary coil of the first voltage generator in order to generate a new ignition spark at the spark gap , (f) further or re-energizing the second voltage generator to support the ignition spark generated by the first voltage generator in order to maintain the generated ignition spark at the spark gap . (a) energizing a primary coil of a first voltage generator and interrupting the energization of the primary coil to generate a voltage in a secondary coil of the first voltage generator in order to generate an ignition spark at a spark gap , (b) operating a second voltage generator to support the ignition spark generated by the first voltage generator in order to maintain the generated ignition spark at the spark gap , (c) measuring a spark current (i 2 ) and/or an output voltage (u 2 ) and/or a voltage corresponding to the output voltage on the secondary side of the ignition system , (d) identifying whether a threshold value condition is met by virtue of identifying whether the spark current (i 2 ) undershoots a first threshold value (S1) or whether the output voltage (u 2 ) or the voltage corresponding to the output voltage (u 2 ) exceeds a second threshold value or whether the spark current (i 2 ) is equal to zero or whether the spark current (i 2 ) is equal to zero and is still equal to zero after a predetermined time has passed, characterized by the steps of (e) provided that the threshold value condition is met: (e1) re-energizing the primary coil of the first voltage generator for a predetermined time or until a primary coil current (i ZS ) reaches a predetermined third threshold, then (e2) interrupting the energization of the primary coil to generate a voltage in the secondary coil of the first voltage generator in order to generate a new ignition spark at the spark gap , (e1) re-energizing the primary coil of the first voltage generator for a predetermined time or until a primary coil current (i ZS ) reaches a predetermined third threshold, then (e2) interrupting the energization of the primary coil to generate a voltage in the secondary coil of the first voltage generator in order to generate a new ignition spark at the spark gap , (f) further or re-energizing the second voltage generator to support the ignition spark generated by the first voltage generator in order to maintain the generated ignition spark at the spark gap . <EOS>