A method determines a propagation time of a message in a communication network. The message is transmitted from a first network component to a second network component along a communication connection, and the first network component detects a transmission time of the message and stores the corresponding transmission time information. The propagation time is determined using the transmission time information. The aim is to improve the accuracy when determining the propagation time. This is achieved in that the second network component returns the message to the first network component immediately after the message is encountered in the second network component. The first network component detects a reception time upon receiving the returned message and stores corresponding reception time information of the message. The propagation time of the message along the communication connection is determined using the transmission time information of the message and the reception time information of the message.