Abstract: A circuit for operating high-pressure discharge lamps, wherein a voltage transformer for power supply to a loading circuit includes a connection for the high-pressure discharge lamp (La) and for the secondary winding (L1b) of an ignition transformer (T1) for an impulse ignition system for igniting a gaseous discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp. The loading circuit includes at least one capacitor (C1) serially arranged with the secondary winding (L1b) of the ignition transformer (T1) when the impulse ignition system is reconnected, the capacity of the capacitor (C1) being selected in such away that the capacitor (C1) substentially forms a bridging for ignition impulses generated by the impulse ignition device in such a way that after ignition of the gaseous discharge in the high-pressure discharge lamp (La), at least one partial compensation of the ignition transformer (T1) is produced when the lamp current passes through the secondary winding (L1b).