The invention relates to a method for operating a brushless electric motor, the windings of which are controlled by an inverter using six switches, wherein the inverter comprises three outputs, which are associated with the windings of the electric motor, and wherein a respective power semiconductor switch is arranged between the output of the inverter and the windings, and wherein a detection unit for detecting defective switches, a unit for measuring the voltage at the outputs of the inverter, and a microcontroller for controlling switches are provided. The invention further relates to a device operating a brushless electric motor. In order not to damage the power semiconductor switches, according to the invention of the inverter is switched off by the microcontroller after a defective switch has been detected, such that no additional power is introduced in the windings (U, V, W) of the electric motor and the power semiconductor switches are opened in a predetermined motor angle position (φU, φv, φw). For said purpose, the motor angle positions (φU, φv, φw) are associated with a respective winding (U, V, W) and the power semiconductor switches thereof and are selected such that the associated power semiconductor switches are not damaged during opening.