A method and a device are provided for fastening a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine. The printing plate has first and second ends to be accommodated in a clamping gap in a circumferential surface of the plate cylinder at least approximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the plate cylinder. The first end is inserted into the clamping gap. An edge of the printing plate is bent over in a region of the first end at an edge of the clamping gap. The printing plate is wound onto the circumferential surface until the second end comes to lie over the clamping gap. The second end is pressed into the clamping gap and deforms the printing plate so that the second end blocks the first end in the clamping gap.