A drive system includes at least one electrical machine and a plurality of rotating components, which are interconnected via shafts. A method for damping torsional oscillations in the drive system includes: determining angular speeds for at least one of the shafts based on measurements in the drive system; determining a damping torque from the angular speeds with a function that models at least some of the electrical machine, the rotating components and the shafts; adapting a reference torque for the at least one electrical machine by adding the damping torque; and controlling the at least one electrical machine with the adapted reference torques.