An elevator apparatus , comprising: a hoisting machine with a drive unit driving an elevator car in an elevator shaft , at least a first and a second brake dimensioned to stop and hold the elevator car at standstill in the elevator shaft , and a control arrangement controlling operation of the hoisting machine and the at least first and second brake , wherein the control arrangement is configured to test operation of the at least the first and second brake in turns during normal operation runs of the elevator car by: triggering only one of the at least first and second brakes to brake when the elevator car has slowed down and arrived to a door in the elevator shaft , decreasing a force (F) provided from the drive unit to the elevator car , monitoring movement of the elevator car , and triggering an indication of a failed brake in case movement of the elevator car is detected while the triggered brake brakes wherein the control arrangement is configured to trigger also the other one of the at least first and second brakes to brake in case movement of the elevator car is detected during said monitoring, characterized in that the control arrangement is further configured to increase the force (F) provided from the drive unit to the elevator car in case movement of the elevator car is detected during said monitoring. a hoisting machine with a drive unit driving an elevator car in an elevator shaft , at least a first and a second brake dimensioned to stop and hold the elevator car at standstill in the elevator shaft , and a control arrangement controlling operation of the hoisting machine and the at least first and second brake , wherein the control arrangement is configured to test operation of the at least the first and second brake in turns during normal operation runs of the elevator car by: triggering only one of the at least first and second brakes to brake when the elevator car has slowed down and arrived to a door in the elevator shaft , decreasing a force (F) provided from the drive unit to the elevator car , monitoring movement of the elevator car , and triggering an indication of a failed brake in case movement of the elevator car is detected while the triggered brake brakes wherein the control arrangement is configured to trigger also the other one of the at least first and second brakes to brake in case movement of the elevator car is detected during said monitoring, characterized in that the control arrangement is further configured to increase the force (F) provided from the drive unit to the elevator car in case movement of the elevator car is detected during said monitoring. triggering only one of the at least first and second brakes to brake when the elevator car has slowed down and arrived to a door in the elevator shaft , decreasing a force (F) provided from the drive unit to the elevator car , monitoring movement of the elevator car , and triggering an indication of a failed brake in case movement of the elevator car is detected while the triggered brake brakes wherein the control arrangement is configured to trigger also the other one of the at least first and second brakes to brake in case movement of the elevator car is detected during said monitoring, characterized in that the control arrangement is further configured to increase the force (F) provided from the drive unit to the elevator car in case movement of the elevator car is detected during said monitoring. <EOS>