Method for handling a fault in a converter unit for high-voltage DC transmission, - wherein the converter unit has a first converter, - wherein a first DC voltage connection of the first converter is connected to a first conductor connection point for a first high-voltage DC transmission conductor, - wherein a second DC voltage connection of the first converter is connected to an impedance unit having an electrical impedance, forming a connection point, - wherein the impedance unit connects the connection point to earth potential, - wherein the impedance unit has an ohmic resistor component which is connected in series with an inductor component, wherein the resistor component has an ohmic resistance of between 5 Ohms and 5000 Ohms, and - wherein an AC voltage connection of the first converter is connected to a secondary winding of a first transformer, and a primary winding of the first transformer is connected to a first AC circuit breaker, wherein in the method - a fault current begins to flow from the earth potential through the impedance unit to the connection point in response to a single-pole or two-pole fault at the three-pole AC voltage connection of the first converter, - the fault current is damped by virtue of the impedance of the impedance unit and a voltage is built up at the impedance unit, as a result of which an AC current flowing through the primary winding of the first transformer has zero crossings such that this AC current is able to be switched off by means of the first AC circuit breaker, and - thereupon the AC current is switched off by means of the first AC circuit breaker. - wherein the converter unit has a first converter, - wherein a first DC voltage connection of the first converter is connected to a first conductor connection point for a first high-voltage DC transmission conductor, - wherein a second DC voltage connection of the first converter is connected to an impedance unit having an electrical impedance, forming a connection point, - wherein the impedance unit connects the connection point to earth potential, - wherein the impedance unit has an ohmic resistor component which is connected in series with an inductor component, wherein the resistor component has an ohmic resistance of between 5 Ohms and 5000 Ohms, and - wherein an AC voltage connection of the first converter is connected to a secondary winding of a first transformer, and a primary winding of the first transformer is connected to a first AC circuit breaker, wherein in the method - a fault current begins to flow from the earth potential through the impedance unit to the connection point in response to a single-pole or two-pole fault at the three-pole AC voltage connection of the first converter, - the fault current is damped by virtue of the impedance of the impedance unit and a voltage is built up at the impedance unit, as a result of which an AC current flowing through the primary winding of the first transformer has zero crossings such that this AC current is able to be switched off by means of the first AC circuit breaker, and - thereupon the AC current is switched off by means of the first AC circuit breaker. - the fault current is damped by virtue of the impedance of the impedance unit and a voltage is built up at the impedance unit, as a result of which an AC current flowing through the primary winding of the first transformer has zero crossings such that this AC current is able to be switched off by means of the first AC circuit breaker, and - thereupon the AC current is switched off by means of the first AC circuit breaker.