The present invention relates to a method for the control of a filling machine (A) for the filling of containers (C) with liquid filling material, wherein the filling machine comprises at least two controllable filling elements (1, 2, 30, 31) each having at least one filling sensor, and wherein by way of the filling sensors the termination of filling of the respective filling element is controlled. According to the invention a first filling element (1) will, in case of failure of its filling sensor, be controlled synchronously to a following second filling element (2).