A multiply phase-cycled steady state free precession sequence has at least two sub-sequences with alternating radio-frequency excitation pulses. An intermediate image data set is generated from raw data that are acquired with each sub-sequence. A resulting image data set is formed from the intermediate image data sets. Radio-frequency excitation pulses for different sub-sequences have supplementary phases differing from one another, such that successive radio-frequency excitation pulses cannot lead to a non-alternating excitation in any sub-sequence. A magnetic resonance apparatus has a corresponding apparatus controller that implements the sequence.