An electronically commutated motor, which has: a stator, with which a stator winding arrangement (212, 214) is associated; a rotor, which interacts with the stator; a device for energizing the stator winding arrangement (212, 214) according to a predetermined energization pattern, which is associated with a selected operating state of the motor; a sensor for generating an electrical image of at least one predetermined segment of a complete mechanical revolution of the rotor, wherein, during a first measurement of the motor in the deenergized state during a first pass of the predetermined segment, a first electrical image (412; 512; 612; 712) of this segment is determinable, and, during a second measurement of the motor in the energized state after passage of an n-fold of a complete mechanical revolution of the rotor, measured from the beginning of the first pass of the predetermined segment, wherein n = 1. 2, 3, etc., a second electrical image (416; 516; 616; 716) of this segment is determinable; an evaluation unit, which is designed to execute the following steps: A) the first image (412; 512; 612; 712) is compared to the second image (416; 516; 616; 716) to obtain an item of information about an actual operating state of the motor, which information about the actual operating state is an item of information about the instantaneous rotational direction of the motor, wherein the following steps are carried out to compare the first image to the second image: A1) a first speed-relevant time span is determined on the basis of the first image (412; 512; 612; 712); A2) a second speed-relevant time span is determined on the basis of the second image (416, 516; 616; 716); A3) the first and second time span (T1, T2) are compared to one another to obtain the item of information about the instantaneous rotational direction of the motor; B) it is determined on the basis of this item of information whether the actual operating state of the motor corresponds to the selected operating state. a stator, with which a stator winding arrangement (212, 214) is associated; a rotor, which interacts with the stator; a device for energizing the stator winding arrangement (212, 214) according to a predetermined energization pattern, which is associated with a selected operating state of the motor; a sensor for generating an electrical image of at least one predetermined segment of a complete mechanical revolution of the rotor, wherein, during a first measurement of the motor in the deenergized state during a first pass of the predetermined segment, a first electrical image (412; 512; 612; 712) of this segment is determinable, and, during a second measurement of the motor in the energized state after passage of an n-fold of a complete mechanical revolution of the rotor, measured from the beginning of the first pass of the predetermined segment, wherein n = 1. 2, 3, etc., a second electrical image (416; 516; 616; 716) of this segment is determinable; an evaluation unit, which is designed to execute the following steps: A) the first image (412; 512; 612; 712) is compared to the second image (416; 516; 616; 716) to obtain an item of information about an actual operating state of the motor, which information about the actual operating state is an item of information about the instantaneous rotational direction of the motor, wherein the following steps are carried out to compare the first image to the second image: A1) a first speed-relevant time span is determined on the basis of the first image (412; 512; 612; 712); A2) a second speed-relevant time span is determined on the basis of the second image (416, 516; 616; 716); A3) the first and second time span (T1, T2) are compared to one another to obtain the item of information about the instantaneous rotational direction of the motor; B) it is determined on the basis of this item of information whether the actual operating state of the motor corresponds to the selected operating state. A) the first image (412; 512; 612; 712) is compared to the second image (416; 516; 616; 716) to obtain an item of information about an actual operating state of the motor, which information about the actual operating state is an item of information about the instantaneous rotational direction of the motor, wherein the following steps are carried out to compare the first image to the second image: A1) a first speed-relevant time span is determined on the basis of the first image (412; 512; 612; 712); A2) a second speed-relevant time span is determined on the basis of the second image (416, 516; 616; 716); A3) the first and second time span (T1, T2) are compared to one another to obtain the item of information about the instantaneous rotational direction of the motor; A1) a first speed-relevant time span is determined on the basis of the first image (412; 512; 612; 712); A2) a second speed-relevant time span is determined on the basis of the second image (416, 516; 616; 716); A3) the first and second time span (T1, T2) are compared to one another to obtain the item of information about the instantaneous rotational direction of the motor; B) it is determined on the basis of this item of information whether the actual operating state of the motor corresponds to the selected operating state.