A method for transmitting control commands in a system (100) of units (L1-L18) in a distributed arrangement, for example in a lighting system having luminaires in a distributed arrangement, involves at least some of the units (L1-L18) sending a received control command again in order to ensure that the control command is forwarded to all units (L1-L18). The control command contains a piece of information regarding an already past command transmission time, wherein each unit (L1-L18) takes the command transmission time that a received command contains as a basis for determining an individual waiting time (TTLind), after the expiry of which the command is executed by the unit (L1-L18).