A method for operating an antilock brake system of a vehicle, in which a braking torque at at least one wheel of the vehicle is cyclically controlled in at least build-up phases and reduction phases, in order to prevent locking of the wheel. In a build-up phase, the braking torque is increased until a maximum adhesion at the wheel is exceeded, and in a subsequent reduction phase, the braking torque is reduced by a differential braking torque, which is ascertained, using a wheel acceleration value of the wheel measured after the build-up phase and a target acceleration value for the wheel.