A method of controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle in which a hold gear function is activated by a driver request and deactivated depending on a return condition. The method comprises the step of (a) determining the return condition by a change in operating state, and (b) deactivating the hold gear function if a temporary operating state, for which the hold function is requested, ends and a change takes place between one of uphill driving and downhill driving and between driving one of up and down a hill and driving on a same plane.