The invention relates to a method for activating a workpiece manipulator (4) of a machine tool (1), comprising a control device which prescribes machining paths (6) for a workpiece by means of a computing unit, which machining paths are travelled by the workpiece manipulator (4) from a machine starting position (A), wherein the workpiece (5) which can be moved by the workpiece manipulator (4) in a multi-axially translatory and preferably also rotating manner is passed to a plurality of tools (3) one after the other for the step-by-step machining. In order to provide advantageous conditions it is proposed that in the case of termination of machining the workpiece manipulator (4) is made to move with the workpiece (5) back over the path of movement (7) assigned to the respective machining step into a position (8) prior to this machining step, in which the workpiece manipulator is optionally stopped or from which the workpiece manipulator is moved into the machine starting position (A).