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 ). <EOS>