A method and a corresponding system are provided for automatically turning off an internal-combustion engine in a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission, by use of a start-stop device which automatically turns off the internal-combustion engine when the vehicle is braked to a stopped position and was held in the stopped position for a predefined time interval by operating the brake pedal. Within the predefined time interval after the stopped position was reached, the motor vehicle driver is able to prevent the automatic turning-off of the internal-combustion engine. The turning-off of the internal-combustion engine is prevented when the brake pedal is released by the driver within the predefined time interval.