A method for operating an exhaust gas burner (3) downstream of an internal combustion engine (1) and upstream of an exhaust gas catalytic converter (4), comprising controlling an ignition device (12) of the exhaust gas burner (3) during a predeterminable preheating phase without supplying fuel (11) to the exhaust gas burner (3) during the preheating phase and, after completion of the preheating phase, supplying fuel (11) to the exhaust gas burner (3) and burning the supplied fuel (11) in the exhaust gas burner (3). A processor unit and a computer program product for carrying out such a method are furthermore proposed.