A method for operating a signal lamp (1), in particular a railway signal lamp, wherein the signal lamp (1) comprises as its illuminant at least one light emitting diode (=LED) (2), and wherein the luminous intensity of the signal lamp (1) is adapted to the brightness of the surrounding, is characterized in that the at least one LED (2) is operated during first time intervals as the illuminant of the signal lamp (1), and during second time intervals, the at least one LED (2) is operated as a photo diode, that first and second time intervals alternate over time, in particular periodically, and that the output voltage of the LED (2) during the second time intervals is used to control the operating current of the at least one LED (2) during first time intervals. The inventive method does without a separate sensor, thus allowing the use of a corresponding signal lamp arrangement which is simple and inexpensive.