The invention refers to a fail-safe actuation system (1) based on a fluid and with a safety position, comprising an actuator (2) having at least a first chamber and a second chamber (3,4); and a working circuit (5) with a motor/pump device (6), wherein, accordingly, at least in a work state, the actuator (2) can be driven through the working circuit (5), and a safety circuit configured to move the actuator (2) into the safety position in a failure state, the safety circuit having a tank (7) that holds pressurized fluid and that, in the failure state, is automatically connected to the first chamber (3) via a switching valve (8), and having a drain valve (9) that, in the failure state, is moved into a through-flow position in order to drain fluid out of the second chamber (4), the safety circuit configured such that, in the operative state, an inflow into the actuator-in a manner that is decoupled from the tank-is established by the working circuit, and, in the failure state, an inflow from the tank into the first chamber-in a manner that is completely decoupled from the working circuit-is created by the safety circuit, whereby a short-circuit fluid connection (36) is provided between the first and second chambers that, in the failure state, is through-connected in order to generate a short-circuit flow between the first and second chambers (3,4).