Systems and methods for detecting and arresting free fall of a mover in a linear motor for an ESP. In one embodiment, the motor of the ESP is initially automatically commutated, but is limited by the back pressure of the fluid being pumped. The drive system of the ESP monitors the speed of the mover in the linear motor and determines whether the speed of the mover exceeds a threshold speed (e.g., by determining whether time differentials between transitions in position sensor signals fall below a threshold value). If the speed of the mover does not exceed the threshold speed, the motor is deemed not to be in free fall. If the speed of the mover exceeds the threshold speed, the motor is considered to be in free fall, so automatic commutation of the motor is disabled and the mover is advanced through its stroke at a predetermined speed.