A method for operating a self-propelled agricultural machine that has a traction drive, a service brake, a control and a man machine interface including an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal, where a user actuation of the brake pedal causes the service brake to be operated. The method includes monitoring the user actuation of the accelerator pedal by the control to detect a brake indication, which is a predetermined indication for an approaching user actuation of the brake pedal. Upon detecting a brake indication, the control implements at least one preparatory measure by the control for the preparation of a user actuation of the brake pedal. The implemented preparatory measure alone does not have a braking effect on the agricultural machine.