The invention relates to a method for operating an inverter (1) and to an inverter (1) for converting a direct voltage (UDC) into an alternating voltage (UAC) with a specified grid frequency (fAC) for supplying loads (12) and/or feeding into a supply grid (13), comprising a direct voltage input (2) and multiple AC power units (6) which are connected in parallel and comprise semiconductor switches (7) in a bridge circuit and freewheeling diodes (8) arranged parallel thereto. The outputs of the AC power units (6) are connected to an alternating voltage output (10) via a respective inductivity (9). A common controller (11) is provided for synchronously controlling the semiconductor switches (7) of the AC power units (6) connected in parallel with a switching frequency (fS) in order to prevent imbalances between the parallel AC power units (6), said controller (11) being designed to block the semiconductor switches (7) of the AC power units (6) during individual zero crossings of the output alternating current (IAC) over a specified duration (tF) such that the inductivities (9) can be discharged via the freewheeling diodes (8) of the semiconductor switches (7) and the sub-output currents (IAi) of the parallel AC power units (6) can thus be balanced.