A method and an arrangement for controlling the drive unit of a vehicle are suggested which prevent a lost motion and a dead path in the interpretation of the position of the accelerator pedal for forming a desired acceleration. An acceleration command is derived from a position of an operator-controlled element (1), especially of an accelerator pedal, and a desired value for an output quantity of the drive unit is formed in dependence upon the acceleration command. A minimum value and/or a maximum value for the acceleration of the vehicle is determined in dependence upon an instantaneous running resistance. The minimum value and/or the maximum value are assigned to respective boundaries of an adjustment range for the position of the operator-controlled element (1).