A strand of sealing compound is expelled from a nozzle into an edge joint of an insulating glass element to form around it a contiguous sealing compound bead. The sealing compound bead is formed discontinuously from several segments. At least one first segment is formed by the relative movement in a first circumferential direction of the insulating glass element, and at least one second segment is formed by the relative movement in a second, opposite circumferential direction. Each connection of segments of the sealing compound bead which is situated on a longitudinal side section of the circumference of the insulating glass element is formed such that the strand of the sealing compound is applied in the region of the end of a sealing compound bead already situated in the edge joint and is formed by the relative movement away from the end.