The present invention relates to a method for operating an electromagnetically controllable metering valve, which is disposed in an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine. For a metering of reducing agent in the exhaust gas system, the metering valve is actuated by a control and/or regulating device via an electromechanical drive unit with a first current profile, which includes a holding current phase having a first holding current level when said metering valve is open. Said metering valve and the drive unit are part of a metering module. When the internal combustion engine is switched off, said metering valve is actuated via said drive unit with a second current profile, which has a second holding current level that is increased with respect to the first holding current level. An independent claim relates to a control device set up to carry out the method.