Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for ensuring the operating state of a mobile electronic terminal device in connection with hot-swapping of a removable storage medium, wherein the mobile electronic terminal device comprises an interface for connecting with a removable storage medium and containing a directory of programs essential for the operation of said mobile electronic terminal device. The method comprises detecting if the status of said interface has changed (102), comparing (108) programs currently running on said mobile electronic terminal device with programs contained in said directory (14) of said essential programs, and terminating (110) all currently running programs which are not contained in said directory (14) of said essential programs. The inventive mobile electronic terminal device comprises an interface component for connecting with a removable storage medium, a data processing component, and a storage component.