In a method for determining, whether a crankshaft of a combustion engine rotating forward after a reverse rotation is oscillating or continues the forward movement, when noticing a reverse rotation of the crankshaft, the covered rotational angle during a reverse rotation is detected, an actual threshold is computed by adding the covered rotational angle and a predetermined safety distance. The rotational angle of the crankshaft rotating immediately forward after a reverse rotation is compared to the actual threshold.