The invention relates to a method for operating a rod-making machine in the tobacco-processing industry. The invention also relates to a rod-making machine in the tobacco-processing industry. The method according to the invention is distinguished in that, in order to start up the rod-making machine, rod material (107, 117) is scattered onto a suction-type rod conveyor (17, 106) and it is ascertained as to whether the suction-type rod conveyor (17, 106) is occupied by a predeterminable quantity of rod material (107, 117), wherein, in the case where the suction-type rod conveyor (17, 106) is occupied by the predeterminable quantity of rod material (107, 117), an additive (101) is fed to the rod material (107, 117) in the region of the suction-type rod conveyor (17, 106) and, in the case where the suction-type rod conveyor (17, 106); is not occupied by a predeterminable quantity of rod material (107, 117), the feed of additive does not take place. The rod-making machine according to the invention comprises a first sensor (118, 118') which detects whether or not a suction-type rod conveyor (17, 106) is occupied by rod material (107, 117).