A method and device for controlling a light emission of a rear lamp of a vehicle. The rear lamp includes optical components having emission surfaces having at least three partial emission surfaces. At least a first and a second light function can be produced by the light emission of the emission surfaces. After a switchover process from the first to the second light function, the first partial emission surface, which emits light for the first light function, emits no light, the second partial emission surface, which emits light for the first light function, continues to emit light, and the third partial emission surface, which emits no light for the first light function, emits light.