In a method and a device for controlling a pump (14, 20) connected to a fuel rail (12) in an internal combustion engine, in order to provide a predetermined quantity of fuel in the fuel rail (12) for a predetermined operating state, the following steps are provided: determining whether a process occurs that switches the internal combustion engine into a next predetermined operating state; determining a pump output of the pump (14, 20) if the process for switching the internal combustion engine into a predetermined operating state was detected, whereby the pump output of the pump (14, 20) is selected such that the predetermined quantity of fuel is provided for the operating state; and actuating the pump (14, 20) so that the pump (14, 20) provides the predetermined quantity of fuel when the predetermined operating state is reached.