A method for operating a packaging machine (3), wherein a beverage container flow is fed to the packaging machine (3) via at least one horizontal conveyor device (2), within which beverage container flow a second type of beverage containers (7) follow a first type of beverage containers (5), wherein the second type of beverage containers (7) are in surface contact with the first type of beverage containers (5), and wherein it is provided that the packaging machine (3) performs a change from a first packaging material (12) to a second packaging material (14) and, in doing so, coordinates the change with a remaining number of the first type of beverage containers (5).