For automatically freeing an axis which, after running over a safe end position (E+), is monitored to ascertain when it is at a standstill (3), monitoring for overshooting the safe end positions (E+, E−) is switched off and a freeing range (4) is defined by a limit value (G1), in the traversing direction of the axis which led to the overshooting of the safe end position (E+), with the value of the greater limit (S1) in absolute terms of the monitored standstill range (3), and by a limit value (G2), in the other traversing direction of the axis, with the value of the corresponding safe end position (E1). After deactivating the monitoring for a standstill of the axis, the axis can then be moved automatically back into the normal traversing range (1) within the safe end positions (E+, E−), while monitoring for overshooting of this freeing range (4).