The invention relates to a method for controlling a locking system of a motor vehicle wherein, as the states of the locking system, there is an unlocked state, a locked state from which it is possible to switch to the unlocked state via at least a first operating element inside the vehicle, and a security state in which by simply activating a first operating element it is not possible to switch to the unlocked state. The aim of the invention is to propose a method that allows a person inside the motor vehicle to still leave the motor vehicle despite user activation of the security state without substantially easing the opening of the motor vehicle from the outside by an unauthorized third party. Four concepts are proposed that can all be implemented in combination to great benefit. They enable a person still inside the vehicle to leave the motor vehicle upon activation of the security state.