A method and apparatus for sensing the present position of a movable machine element in a position control system when a position control loop in the system is placed in the open state. In the position control system, error storage means (107b) computes and stores an error between a command value produced by a control unit (102), and an amount of movement sensed by a position sensor provided on a motor shaft or on the movable machine element, and a speed control circuit controls the motor in accordance with the error from the error storage means (1 07b). The method of sensing present position includes steps of reading and storing as a steady deviation the error from said error storage means (1 07b) immediately before the position control loop is switched from the closed to the open state, reading the error in the error storage means (1 07b) when the position control loop is in the open state, updating the content of a present position register (202) on the basis of an arithmetic difference obtained by subtracting the steady deviation from the read error, and revising the content of the error storage means (107b) by the arithmetic difference.