Method for operating a longitudinal driver assistance system (2) of a motor vehicle (1), which controls, in a pure follow mode, the speed of the motor vehicle (1) such that a distance to a vehicle in front as the control object remains constant, and which, in a free travel mode, controls the speed to a desired speed, a likelihood of the vehicle (14) in front of pulling out being determined depending on sensor data of at least one ambient sensor. The control with respect to the vehicle (14) in front and/or the control in the free travel mode is modified or ended directly after termination of the follow mode depending on the pulling-out likelihood.