The invention relates to a method for controlling operation of an electric machine (49) which has three phases, wherein pulse width modulation is carried out for pulses of a first electrical variable of the three phases, wherein the first electrical variable has a pulse with the longest pulse width for a first of the three phases, has a pulse with a medium pulse width for a second of the three phases and has a pulse with the shortest pulse width for a third of the three phases in each case on the basis of a position of electromechanical components (50) of the electrical machine (49) with respect to one another, wherein a cycle of the pulse width modulation is limited by two times (25, 27), specifically a time (25) at the start of the cycle and a time (27) at the end of the cycle, wherein a first pulse of the three phases is shifted at a first of the two times (25, 27) which limit the cycle, and a second pulse of the three phases is shifted at a second of the two times (25, 27) which limit the cycle, wherein at least one value of a second electrical variable is measured within at least one measuring window (32, 40, 44) during the cycle.