In a method for operating an injection molding machine, particularly a method for securing tools of an injection molding machine, a desired variable curve is determined along at least one section of a travel path of a molding tool in a desired variable determination phase, and the injection molding machine is operated according to the determined desired variable curve in a subsequent operational phase. A default curve of at least one initial variable is predefined, the molding tool is driven in accordance with the default curve of the initial variable in a test run, at least one resulting value of the desired variable is measured and stored during the test run, and a desired variable curve is formed along the section of the travel path from the measured values of the desired variable.