In a method to execute a printing interruption in a printing operation, with aid of a sensor, print clock pulses are generated which are supplied to a print controller depending on a feed speed of the printing substrate web. With triggering of the print interruption the feed speed of the printing substrate is reduced from a print speed to a predetermined speed in a slowing ramp, and after the print interruption the printing substrate is accelerated again to the print speed in an acceleration ramp. With aid of the sensor, print clock pulses are generated which are supplied to a print controller depending on the feed speed of the printing substrate. Given occurrence of a print clock pulse during the ramps, with the print controller a vibration cycle is initiated at nozzles of the print head that are not ejecting ink droplets at a time when the vibration cycle is initiated.