A method for power factor correction comprising the steps: • application of an input voltage (Vin) to an inductor , • selective charging and discharging of the inductor in a normal operation by closing and opening a switch element coupled with the inductor , wherein when the inductor is discharged a current (I L ) is fed through the inductor via a diode to the output connection , and • monitoring of a value representing an output voltage (V out ) occurring at the output connection , in order to detect an overvoltage condition (OV), • wherein when the overvoltage condition (OV) is detected, a switch is made into an overvoltage operation, wherein in the overvoltage operation the switch element is activated by repeated switching on and off in such a manner that the diode is conductive, and the switch element in the overvoltage operation is repeatedly switched on and switched off with a lower frequency than in the normal operation, • wherein the switch element is coupled with a connection point between the inductor and the diode and the output voltage (V out ) is indirectly monitored by detection of a voltage (V s ) occurring at the connection point, • wherein the switch element is repeatedly switched on and switched off in the overvoltage operation with a specific frequency and a specific duty ratio, wherein the frequency and the duty ratio are selected in such a manner that a switch-on time of the switch element in the overvoltage operation is long enough, so that the diode is conductive, • characterized in that a switch-off time of the switch element in the overvoltage operation is long enough, in order to achieve a minimum energy transfer from an input connection to the output connection . • application of an input voltage (Vin) to an inductor , • selective charging and discharging of the inductor in a normal operation by closing and opening a switch element coupled with the inductor , wherein when the inductor is discharged a current (I L ) is fed through the inductor via a diode to the output connection , and • monitoring of a value representing an output voltage (V out ) occurring at the output connection , in order to detect an overvoltage condition (OV), • wherein when the overvoltage condition (OV) is detected, a switch is made into an overvoltage operation, wherein in the overvoltage operation the switch element is activated by repeated switching on and off in such a manner that the diode is conductive, and the switch element in the overvoltage operation is repeatedly switched on and switched off with a lower frequency than in the normal operation, • wherein the switch element is coupled with a connection point between the inductor and the diode and the output voltage (V out ) is indirectly monitored by detection of a voltage (V s ) occurring at the connection point, • wherein the switch element is repeatedly switched on and switched off in the overvoltage operation with a specific frequency and a specific duty ratio, wherein the frequency and the duty ratio are selected in such a manner that a switch-on time of the switch element in the overvoltage operation is long enough, so that the diode is conductive, • characterized in that a switch-off time of the switch element in the overvoltage operation is long enough, in order to achieve a minimum energy transfer from an input connection to the output connection . <EOS>