A method for determining an initial rotor position of a three-phase electric motor with a control circuit, the method comprising: - energizing a first and second phase (312.1, 312.2) of the three-phase electric motor with an electric current increasing or decreasing over a first energization interval; - determining an induced voltage in a non-energized third phase (312.3) of the three-phase electric motor at least at two temporally spaced measurement times during the first energization interval; - determining an induction voltage difference of the voltage induced in the third phase (312.3) between the two temporally spaced induction measurement times, taking into account a voltage change in the control circuit of the first and/or second phase (312.13312.1, 312.2) caused by the energization of the first and second phase in the first energization interval; and - determining the initial rotor position based on the determined induction voltage difference; characterized in that - the voltage change in the control circuit of the first and/or second phase (312.13312.1, 312.2) caused by the energization of the first and second phase in the first energization interval is taken into account in the form of a predetermined, estimated shunt voltage difference, or - the voltage change in the control circuit of the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) caused by the energization of the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) in the energization interval corresponds to a shunt voltage difference which arises at a voltage drop across a shunt resistor for measuring the phase current in the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) between two spaced-apart shunt measurement times, and wherein the voltage change in the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) caused by the energization of the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) in the energization interval is taken into account in that the induction voltage difference is reduced by a value proportional to the shunt voltage difference. - energizing a first and second phase (312.1, 312.2) of the three-phase electric motor with an electric current increasing or decreasing over a first energization interval; - determining an induced voltage in a non-energized third phase (312.3) of the three-phase electric motor at least at two temporally spaced measurement times during the first energization interval; - determining an induction voltage difference of the voltage induced in the third phase (312.3) between the two temporally spaced induction measurement times, taking into account a voltage change in the control circuit of the first and/or second phase (312.13312.1, 312.2) caused by the energization of the first and second phase in the first energization interval; and - determining the initial rotor position based on the determined induction voltage difference; - the voltage change in the control circuit of the first and/or second phase (312.13312.1, 312.2) caused by the energization of the first and second phase in the first energization interval is taken into account in the form of a predetermined, estimated shunt voltage difference, or - the voltage change in the control circuit of the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) caused by the energization of the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) in the energization interval corresponds to a shunt voltage difference which arises at a voltage drop across a shunt resistor for measuring the phase current in the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) between two spaced-apart shunt measurement times, and wherein the voltage change in the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) caused by the energization of the first and/or second phase (312.1, 312.2) in the energization interval is taken into account in that the induction voltage difference is reduced by a value proportional to the shunt voltage difference.