A method of operating a resistance heating element and a device for carrying out the method are described. During a first step, the resistance of a resistor of the resistance heating element is determined at a known base temperature. In a second step, the resistance setpoint value is determined as a function of resistance of the resistor at the known base temperature and known temperature coefficients. The resistance heating element is activated by approximately setting the resistance setpoint value in order to heat the resistance heating element to the given setpoint temperature.