A hydrostatic drive system has a pump (1) and at least one consumer (5) controlled by a control valve (4) that can be actuated by control signals. A precharge device (10) that generates a precharge pressure is located in a reservoir line (7) that leads from the control valve (4) to a reservoir (2). The precharge device can be pressurized as a function of the control signals of the control valve (4). To make possible a recharge during the deceleration of a consumer, the precharge device (10) can be pressurized in the direction of an elevation of the precharge pressure when there is a decreasing control signal of the control valve (4).