An emergency operation method for actuating a fuel pump after a first temperature threshold for an actuation electronics system of the fuel pump has been exceeded including reducing a power consumption of an electric motor that drives a pump stage by the actuation electronics system by reducing a rotational speed until a monitored temperature value falls below a second temperature threshold below the first temperature threshold. Emergency operation method is initiated after the first temperature threshold is exceeded by a fault signal output by the actuation electronics system to an engine control unit is communicatively connected to the actuation electronics system. The fault signal, as long as it is output, is used to suppress a specification for the rotational speed of the electric motor on the part of the engine control unit and instead to specify the rotational speed by way of the actuation electronics system.