In a method for controlling a radio-frequency transmitter of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus to apply an inversion pulse to a sample magnetization, in a multi-shot readout phase, a gradient system of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is controlled to apply a steady-state gradient echo readout sequence having at least one first phase-encoding gradient along a first direction, at least one second phase-encoding gradient along a second direction, and a sequence of readout gradients along a readout direction. In the multi-shot readout phase, the gradient system is controlled to apply first AC gradients along the first direction and at least partly contemporaneously with readout gradients of the sequence of readout gradients, and the gradient system is controlled to apply second AC gradients along the second direction and at least partly contemporaneously with the readout gradients of the sequence of readout gradients.