Control unit for controlling an inverter with a plurality of half bridges each having a first switching element connected to a potential of a DC link and a second switching element connected to another potential of the DC link. The control unit provides first signals to the first switching elements such that they are turned off upon receiving a request signal, and second signals to the second switching elements such that they are turned on upon receiving the request signal and to perform a comparison of a measured electric parameter of the inverter with a predefined threshold value. The control unit provides a second signal such that the second switching element controlled by the second signal is turned off for a predefined time span, if a switching criterion comprising a condition that the comparison results in that the measured electric parameter reaches or crosses the threshold value is fulfilled.