The invention relates to a method for checking a printing cylinder for defects in an engraved cylinder surface of the printing cylinder, comprising the steps: capturing a first and at least one further digital image of a cylinder surface of a printing cylinder by means of an optical capture unit, wherein the cylinder surface is cleaned before capturing the at least one further image, comparing the digital images each with a digital engraving master of the printing cylinder, the comparing comprising: determining deviations between each of the digital images and the digital engraving master, and checking the determined deviations for matching deviations between the digital images, wherein a pseudo defects is concluded if no matching deviations between the digital images have been detected when comparing, and wherein an engraving defect on the printing cylinder is concluded in the case of matching deviations. Furthermore, a corresponding arrangement is described.