A method and a circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp, in particular during the first hours of operation after lamp manufacture, are described. The method and the circuit arrangement are provided in particular for high-pressure gas discharge lamps (HID or high intensity discharge lamps or UHP or ultra high performance lamps). Furthermore, a lighting unit with a discharge lamp and such a circuit arrangement and a projection system with a projection display and such a lighting unit are described. Switching-over between various modes of operation with different operating frequencies serves to avoid that the burning voltage of the lamp drops into a region of a minimum voltage of a lamp driver unit below which the latter can no longer drive the lamp with its rated power or a desired power.