At least one rotating component of at least one printing unit is regulated to a target value for a temperature, representing the component temperature, by a temperature controller. At least one drive of an assembly of the printing machine is regulated or controlled, on the basis of a target value for a rotational speed prescribed by a command level, with respect to a rotational speed to be maintained. For at least an operating phase transient, relative to the rotational speed, a target value prescribed by the command level, is modified. This is done by considering at least one member of a route and/or a control model characterizing the temperature controller and/or by using a rule (F2(θ)) for a dependence of a rotational speed on a temperature. The modified target rotational speed serves as a prescribed value for the rotational speed of the drives.