A device and a method for safety shutdown of the at least one laser light source (2) of at least one headlight (1) for a motor vehicle, the safety device having a vehicle-side subsystem and a headlight-side subsystem, wherein the two subsystems are connected to one another via an interface and are designed to exchange safety-relevant signals (sa1, sa2, sa3, SL, SP, SB, SC, SD), a monitoring arrangement (14) is designed to output control signals (sta, sts, stv) in the presence of safety-critical conditions, and a headlight controller (10) is designed to shut down the at least one laser light source (2), or keep it shut down, when such control signals (sta, sts, sty) are supplied.