A method of operating a sealing station of a packaging machine for producing, in the case of possibly varying filling degrees, packages with at least substantially similar package appearances, the method comprising the execution of a comparison between a detected pressure curve and a reference pressure curve, and the calculation of a filling degree of the package positioned within the sealing station on the basis of the comparison between the detected pressure curve and the reference pressure curve, and/or the calculation of a volume flow with respect to the pressure curve or the reference pressure curve, and the setting of at least one process parameter at the packaging machine with due regard to the calculated filling degree and/or the volume flow.