A method for the frequency stabilization of a gas laser with a laser tube (1), in stable operation includes a continuous operation control procedure with the following steps: Operating the gas laser for the radiation of laser light; measuring an intensity of one component of the radiated laser light with a detector (8); adjusting a tube temperature of the laser tube (1) by means of a control system (7), so that the measured intensity is controlled to a set-point value. During a startup phase, the procedure includes the following steps: Measuring an ambient temperature; controlling the condition of the laser tube (1) by means of the control system (7) to a set-point state, wherein the set-point state corresponds to a temperature of the laser tube (1) at the measured ambient temperature in the steady condition without any further heating or cooling; and switching over to the continuous operation control.