In a method for controlling an electronic parking brake system and an electronic parking brake system, a travel-optimized method is used to achieve the released state of the parking brake system. When the parking brake is applied, travel-force values are detected and a plausibility check is run, the values being used to arrive at a first optimized position when the brake is released. If the residual force applied to the brake exceeds a threshold value, the parking brake is released even more until the value remains just under the threshold value or until a maximum defined release travel is achieved.