In a method for operating a hybrid vehicle, a total wheel drive torque is composed of a wheel drive torque of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle and a wheel drive torque of an electric machine of the vehicle, and the total wheel drive torque is selectively increased or decreased by the wheel drive torque of the electric machine in one of a motor mode or a generator mode of the electric machine. The electric machine is operated such that (i) the sum of the wheel drive torques of the electric machine and a wheel-drive-torque-reducing safety measure carried out remains constant in the generator mode, or (ii) the sum of the wheel drive torques of the electric machine and a wheel drive torque-increasing safety measure carried out remains constant in the motor mode.