A circuit for activating an electric motor, especially an DC motor, in a hand guided work apparatus, includes a main circuit having an electric electric motor, a rechargeable-battery pack as an energy source, and an operating switch for activating the motor, and also a parallel branch to the battery pack and the operating switch. A capacitor is arranged in the parallel branch. To lower the electrical contact load on the operating switch, provision is made to arrange an electronic switch, which is connected in series with the capacitor, in the parallel branch. The series circuit which includes the capacitor and the electronic switch has a first and a second end. The ends form the only electrical power connection of the capacitor to the main circuit. The electronic switch in the series circuit will apply a supply voltage, which is provided by the battery pack, to the capacitor only after a period of time following closing of the operating switch has elapsed.