Method for operating a converter, in particular an electrical machine, in which a control signal (P') for setting a switch-off speed (A neu) is generated for the or each semiconductor switch of the converter, - wherein an intermediate circuit electrical voltage (U dc) of an intermediate circuit is detected and compared with a voltage threshold value (U thresh), - wherein an operating temperature (T B) of the respective semiconductor switch is detected and compared with a temperature threshold (T thresh), - wherein a load current (I e) switched by means of the respective semiconductor switch is detected and compared with a current threshold value (I thresh), - wherein the control signal (P') for setting the switch-off speed (A neu) is generated depending on the comparisons, - wherein the control signal (P') for setting the switch-off speed (A neu) is selected from three stored switch-off speeds (A 1, A 2, A 3) as a function of the comparisons, the first switch-off speed (A 1) being slower than the second switch-off speed (A 2) and the second switch-off speed (A 2) being slower than the third switch-off speed (A 3), - wherein the control signal (P') is set to the first shutdown speed (A 1) when the operating temperature (T B) is lower than the temperature threshold (T thresh) and/or when the DC link voltage (U dc) is higher than the voltage threshold (Uthresh), - wherein the control signal (P') is set to the second shutdown speed (A 2) when the operating temperature (T B) is greater than the temperature threshold (T thresh) and when the load current (I e) is greater than the current threshold (I thresh), and - wherein the control signal (P') is set to the third cut-off speed (A 3) when the operating temperature (T B) is greater than the temperature threshold (T thresh) and when the load current (I e) is less than the current threshold (I thresh). - wherein an intermediate circuit electrical voltage (U dc) of an intermediate circuit is detected and compared with a voltage threshold value (U thresh), - wherein an operating temperature (T B) of the respective semiconductor switch is detected and compared with a temperature threshold (T thresh), - wherein a load current (I e) switched by means of the respective semiconductor switch is detected and compared with a current threshold value (I thresh), - wherein the control signal (P') for setting the switch-off speed (A neu) is generated depending on the comparisons, - wherein the control signal (P') for setting the switch-off speed (A neu) is selected from three stored switch-off speeds (A 1, A 2, A 3) as a function of the comparisons, the first switch-off speed (A 1) being slower than the second switch-off speed (A 2) and the second switch-off speed (A 2) being slower than the third switch-off speed (A 3), - wherein the control signal (P') is set to the first shutdown speed (A 1) when the operating temperature (T B) is lower than the temperature threshold (T thresh) and/or when the DC link voltage (U dc) is higher than the voltage threshold (Uthresh), - wherein the control signal (P') is set to the second shutdown speed (A 2) when the operating temperature (T B) is greater than the temperature threshold (T thresh) and when the load current (I e) is greater than the current threshold (I thresh), and - wherein the control signal (P') is set to the third cut-off speed (A 3) when the operating temperature (T B) is greater than the temperature threshold (T thresh) and when the load current (I e) is less than the current threshold (I thresh).