A method of regulating an electromagnetic actuator is disclosed. The electromagnetic actuator has an electromagnet; an armature movable, in a switching step, by a controlled current supply to said magnet coil, from a first armature position to a second, pole face-engaging armature position against a force of a resetting spring. The method includes the following steps for regulating the current flow through the magnet coil to set a low velocity of the armature as it arrives at the pole face: during the switching step, detecting the energy amount in the electromagnetic actuator by detecting a changing armature position and/or a changing armature velocity; estimating by extrapolation the expected energy amount upon arrival of the armature on the pole face; and forming a coarse correcting value by comparing the estimation to be extrapolated with a predetermined target value selected with an aid of the total energy stored in the system in the second armature position.