A method and device for drilling and setting adhesive anchor bolts close to the mine face during the cutting operation of a tunneling or mining machine which is capable of being displaced on a traveling mechanism and includes a cutting cylinder or cutting head rotationally mounted on a cantilever arm pivotable in a vertical direction, and optionally in a horizontal direction. The method is carried out in a manner where the substantially horizontal forward movement of the cantilever arm at break-in cutting is detected and a signal is generated during break-in cutting to block commencement of a working cycle for drilling and anchoring. A controller (16) for excavation of material on the mine face is networked with a controller (15) for actuation of the anchor drilling and setting device (10) via radio, electrical or optical lines (17).