In a method and a pulse sequence optimization device to determine a pulse sequence for a magnetic resonance system, a determination of a time interval in a pulse sequence that is to be optimized with regard to a gradient curve initially takes place, the pulse sequence including a number of radio-frequency pulses and a number of gradient pulses that are to be chronologically coordinated, under determination of the following boundary conditions for the gradient curve: length of the time interval, target integral of the gradient curve over the time interval, start value of the gradient curve at the beginning of the time interval, end value of the gradient curve at the end of the time interval. A gradient curve is then defined according to a function that is linear per segment by addition of a first linear function that connects the start value and the end value and a second function that is linear per segment that assumes a function value of “zero” at the beginning and end of the time interval, and that is defined so that the sum of the integral of the first linear function and of the integral of the second function corresponds to the target integral.