A method and a hemodialysis machine provide for at least partial emptying of an extracorporeal blood circulation after patient blood in the circulation has been returned to the patient via an infusion liquid which displaces the blood. The method includes emptying at least a blood chamber of a hemodialyzer subdivided by a semipermeable membrane into the blood chamber and a dialysis fluid chamber without additionally connecting an arterial blood line and a venous blood line of the circulation to one another. The arterial blood line is actively or passively aerated at a first point and the venous blood line is actively or passively aerated at a second point. The infusion liquid is emptied through the membrane into the dialysis fluid chamber and then via a dialysis fluid discharge line. The method is operable by a control program that runs automatically without requiring any manual input after activation of the program.
