The invention relates to a method and a device for actuating at least one wheel brake device of a vehicle for preventing inadvertent rolling. A driving off assistance mode with a predefined brake pressure reduction is activated in the at least one wheel brake device if the stationary state of the vehicle has been detected (50) and the vehicle is located (51) on an incline, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and an uphill direction was detected (52) as the designated driving off direction of the vehicle. The brake pressure reduction can take place with a delay after the brake pedal has been released in such a way that the vehicle rolls back at a crawling speed.