The invention relates to a method for the surface inspection of strip pieces (120). The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the method. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: cutting off the strip pieces (120) from a metal strip (210), wherein the strip pieces (120) comprise a length less than twice the circumference of a work roll (230) by means of which the metal strip (210) has previously been rolled; automatically checking the upper and/or lower side of the cut-off strip pieces (120) with the aid of a camera system (150) and an analysis unit (300) in regard to any periodic types of faults that may be present and caused by the work roll; ending the surface inspection process if periodically occurring types of faults are detected, or; feeding the cut-off strip pieces (120) to a strip inspection unit (140) for checking by means of inspection personnel for non-periodic types of faults if no periodic types of faults had previously been detected.