The invention relates to a method and to a device for operating an electric peristaltic hose pump, in particular a hose pump for transporting fluids in medical-technical devices, in particular extracorporeal blood treatment devices. In order to monitor the regular operation of a hose pump, the power consumption of the pump or a physical variable in correlation with the power consumption, in particular the pump flow, is monitored. The pump flow includes a periodically non-altering direct component which is superimposed on a periodically altering alternating component. In order to monitor the regular operation of the hose pump, the alternating component of the power consumption in relation to the direct component of the power consumption is monitored as whether it increases and/or decreases during blood treatment.
