The invention relates to a method for operating a drive device for a dual-cylinder slurry pump and to a drive device for a dual-cylinder slurry pump, comprising two drive cylinders that are actuated by means of a fluid (1, 2), said cylinders alternately charging a common delivery line with slurry, in particular concrete, via a pipe switch (RW), in particular indirectly by means of driven deliverycylinders (FR, FL). According to the invention, the pipe switch is likewise actuated by means of a fluid using an actuator cylinder (SZ) and as early as the final displacement of the piston of each drive cylinder in its stroke, prior to said piston reaching its final position, at least part of the fluid stream that is provided to actuate the drive cylinder is used to actuate the actuator cylinder.