Control means, comprising - a control segment that is designed for driving an electrically adjustable piece of furniture; and - a switched-mode power supply unit that supplies power to the control segment, wherein said switched-mode power supply unit features a switching regulator component for controlling the switched-mode power supply unit and can be switched into a normal operating mode and into an idle mode; - wherein the switched-mode power supply unit is designed for making available a supply voltage for the switching regulator component in a clocked fashion with the aid of a start-up circuit in the idle mode; and - wherein the switched-mode power supply unit features a power failure detection circuit that is designed for detecting a failure of a line voltage applied to the input side of the switched-mode power supply unit based on a signal within the start-up circuit and for signaling this failure to the control segment; characterized in that. - the start-up circuit features an energy storage, a resistor element and a detection element that is connected in series to the resistor element and forms part of the power failure detection circuit; - the start-up circuit and the switching regulator component are connectable via a switching unit; and - the start-up circuit comprises a detection circuit that is designed for controlling a connection between the start-up circuit and the switching regulator component based on a voltage across the energy storage, such that said connection is established when the voltage across the energy storage exceeds a first, higher threshold value, and such that said connection is separated when the voltage across the energy storage falls short of a second, lower threshold value. - a control segment that is designed for driving an electrically adjustable piece of furniture; and - a switched-mode power supply unit that supplies power to the control segment, wherein said switched-mode power supply unit features a switching regulator component for controlling the switched-mode power supply unit and can be switched into a normal operating mode and into an idle mode; - wherein the switched-mode power supply unit is designed for making available a supply voltage for the switching regulator component in a clocked fashion with the aid of a start-up circuit in the idle mode; and - wherein the switched-mode power supply unit features a power failure detection circuit that is designed for detecting a failure of a line voltage applied to the input side of the switched-mode power supply unit based on a signal within the start-up circuit and for signaling this failure to the control segment; - the start-up circuit features an energy storage, a resistor element and a detection element that is connected in series to the resistor element and forms part of the power failure detection circuit; - the start-up circuit and the switching regulator component are connectable via a switching unit; and - the start-up circuit comprises a detection circuit that is designed for controlling a connection between the start-up circuit and the switching regulator component based on a voltage across the energy storage, such that said connection is established when the voltage across the energy storage exceeds a first, higher threshold value, and such that said connection is separated when the voltage across the energy storage falls short of a second, lower threshold value.