The invention relates to a method for operating an open-end spinning device (1), comprising a spinning rotor (2) and an opening roller (12), which can be controlled so as to be driven individually independently of one another, wherein after an interruption in the spinning process takes place as a result of the detection of the absence of a thread, a piecing operation is initiated, comprising a piecing process, in which an upper thread passes through a fiber ring formed in the spinning rotor (2) and is connected to the latter, and a subsequent drawing-in accumulating process which serves to reduce a thin point in the thread following the piecer, wherein during the piercing operation, the opening roller (12) is temporarily driven at a piecing speed which is higher than the operating speed of the opening roller (12).