A method for starting up a wind energy plant after an operation stoppage, wherein the wind energy plant has a gearbox in the drive train and an operation management which can control at least one operational variable significant for the strain of the gearbox B of the wind energy plant to a desired value BSoll, wherein after the operation stoppage, the desired value BSoll is limited by a maximum value BMax, which is preset depending on a measured temperature of a gearbox component and/or of a lubricant for the gearbox.