An aluminum alloy and a method for improving the ability of a semi-finished or finished product to age artificially, includes an age-hardenable aluminum alloy on an Al—Mg—Si, Al—Zn, Al—Zn—Mg or Al—Si—Mg basis, wherein the aluminum alloy is transformed to a solid solution state, in particular by solution heat treatment (1), is quenched and subsequently forms precipitations by a process of natural aging (3), the method involving at least one measure for reducing a negative effect of natural aging (3) of the aluminum alloy on artificial aging (4) thereof. In order to achieve advantageous method conditions, a measure for reducing the negative effect involves an addition of at least one alloy element which can be associated with quenched-in vacancies for the solid solution of the aluminum alloy with a proportion of under 500, in particular under 200, atomic ppm in the aluminum alloy, whereby the number of vacancies that are not associated with precipitations at the beginning of artificial aging (4) increases in order to reduce the negative effect of natural aging (3) of the aluminum alloy on the further artificial aging (4) thereof by mobilizing these unassociated vacancies.