A method for operating a belt-driven starter generator of an internal combustion engine, in which a time interval between an onset of a rotary motion of the belt-driven starter generator and an onset of a rotary motion of the internal combustion engine is determined, the determined time interval is compared to a reference value, and the structural change of a belt of the belt-driven starter generator is inferred therefrom, and a torque of the belt-driven starter generator and/or a torque of a component connected to the belt is restricted as a function of the structural change of the belt.