A method for operating a textile machine is provided to produce roving from a fiber bundle with a consolidating means, the roving having a protective twist. The produced roving is wound onto a tube with a winding device. During the winding process, the roving is guided a guide element arranged between the consolidating means and the tube, wherein the guide element exerts a decelerating effect on the roving. The decelerating effect is controlled during operation of the textile machine such that the decelerating effect is lower during a start procedure while the roving leaving the consolidating means is brought into contact with a tube or during a tube change while a wound tube is replaced by an empty tube than during a winding process that takes place between the start procedure and the tube change.