Method for operating a high-pressure fuel pump of a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine

It is proposed a method for operating a high-pressure fuel pump of a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the high-pressure fuel pump (16) comprises at least one pump element (24), wherein the pump element (24) comprises a plunger (32) at least indirectly by the internal combustion engine (10) in has driven a lifting movement of the pump piston (26) delimits a pump working space (46) which is connectable by an electrically controlled valve (48) with an inlet or a discharge area, wherein by the high-pressure fuel pump (16) fuel in a fuel high-pressure accumulator (18) supported is connected to the at least one fuel injector (20), and wherein said fuel injection means includes an electronic control device (22) through which the valve (48) and the at least one fuel injector (20) are driven. When starting the internal combustion engine (10) no fuel delivery occurs during a first delivery stroke, or during a first pumping stroke and at least one following initial delivery stroke of the pump piston (26) of the at least one pump element (24) by the pump piston (26) into the fuel high-pressure accumulator (18). Thereby, the load of the high-pressure fuel pump when starting the internal combustion engine (10) can be kept low.