A method for detecting damage during the operation of a gas turbine, including the following steps: calculating an average value of individual temperature measurement values over a defined sampling time period from an ensemble of temperature sensors in or on the gas turbine; calculating the individual temperature differences between the average value and the individual temperature measurement values over the defined sampling time period; calculating the individual temperature differences for successive sampling time periods over a defined time interval; creating a first distribution by dividing the temperature differences associated with a temperature sensor for the defined time interval into temperature difference intervals; comparing the first distribution with a second distribution of temperature differences likewise divided into temperature difference intervals; and producing an operation signal on the basis of a negative result of the comparison.