The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for igniting and operating a high-pressure discharge lamp, provided with: input terminals for the connection of a supply source, output terminals for the connection of the lamp, switching means for operating the lamp at a nominal lamp voltage Vla during stable lamp operation, and for generating an open voltage Vo at the output terminals before the lamp is ignited, a control circuit for controlling the switching means provided with means BM for limiting the voltage at the output terminals. According to the invention, the circuit arrangement comprises means M for detecting the transition from a glow discharge to an arc discharge.