In a method for controlling the operation of a reversible belt retractor to release a belt extraction lock of a restraint belt in a motor vehicle, the lock can be activated by an acceleration sensor. After the belt retractor has been triggered as a consequence of a hazardous situation having been detected and after the hazardous situation has been recognized as being over, the operation of the belt retractor is controlled by a release signal at a release time in order to bring about the release of the belt extraction lock to shift it from a blocking state into a comfort-providing state. The release time is determined by a sensor model algorithm based on a model of the acceleration sensor from at least one variable characterizing the running dynamics.