A device for monitoring an operation of an inductive element, includes a current-measuring device is switched in series with the inductive element. The device is configured to ascertain a first time-discrete and value-discrete signal, which characterizes a current flowing through the current-measuring device; to ascertain a second time-discrete and value-discrete signal, which characterizes a current flowing through the current-measuring device and has a predefinable time shift in relation to the first signal; and to infer the presence of a shunt from a comparison of the first signal with the second signal. Also described is a method for monitoring the operation of the inductive element.