The invention relates to a method for controlling a hydraulically actuated drive unit (1-3), especially for a valve or control device, wherein at least on a part of the displacement of the drive unit the displacement speed (v′) is detected and compared with a predetermined target displacement speed (v), whereupon in the case of a difference between actual value (v′) and target value (v) of the speed, the controlling of the drive unit (1-3) is changed such that the displacement speed (v′) of the drive unit is adapted to the target value (v).