Device for controlling a pile-lifting device of a sheet-processing machine has a drive for performing correction movements in order to keep the upper side of the pile within a range of heights, a device for scanning the position of an upper side of the pile so as to determine whether the upper side of the pile has reached a predetermined height or not, and a control device for controlling the correction movements in accordance with the result of the scanning of the position of the upper side of the pile, and includes device for determining a quantity dependent upon the correction movement.