A method for the directional control of a rock-drilling ma-chine, the drilling unit (1) of the rock-drilling machine, which is located in a borehole (2), comprising at least a pi-lot drill bit (6) or an underreamer drill bit (8), the drill bit(s) (6, 8) being driven by an electric motor (10) via a gearbox (12), and the drill bit(s) (6, 8) being moved into the rock (3) by means of a feeding rod (4) extending from a feeding machine at the outside the borehole (2), and the drill bit(s) (6, 8), gearbox (12) and motor (10) being pivoted in a controlled manner about a steering axis (18) which is approximately perpendicular to the center axis (26) of the feeding rod (4).