A tape printer control method including: (a) performing printing operation by driving a printing head while feeding a printing tape using a feed roller to which normal rotation power of a motor is transmitted via a gear train; (b) suspending the printing operation; (c) driving the motor slightly in the reverse rotation direction after the suspension of the printing operation to eliminate play in the reverse rotation direction produced by the backlash of the gear train without rotating the feed roller; (d) performing cutting operation for the printing tape using a tape cutter on the downstream side of the printing head in the tape feed direction; (e) driving the motor slightly in the normal rotation direction before restart of the printing operation to eliminate play in the normal rotation direction produced by the backlash of the gear train without rotating the feed roller; and (f) restarting the printing operation.