A method for repairing run-in coatings is provided. The method includes the steps of filling a damaged site of the run-in coating with a filling material having a material composition that corresponds to a material composition of the run-in coating or is comparable to the material composition of the run-in coating or having material properties that are comparable to material properties of the run-in coating; drying the filling material that has been filled into the damaged site; depositing a donor diffusion layer over an area of the damaged site and onto the dried filling material; and thermally treating the run-in coating at least in the area of the damaged site to locally diffuse at least one metallic element from the donor diffusion layer into the filling material.