A method operates a gas-discharge lamp (16) in a transition from a “deactivated” state without an electric arc to a stable “light-generating” state. The method comprises steps of discharging a booster capacitor (C2) in an “acquisition” phase following an ignition-voltage impulse via a current path that conducts a current flowing through the gas-discharge lamp (16) and in which an inductor (L1) having at least one switch (S5) lies in series and cyclically discharging the booster capacitor (C2) by a repeated alternating closing and opening of the switch (S5).