A method for determining a rotation variable of a rotatably mounted rotor of a mechanically commutated electric motor, having a motor current path formed between two brush elements of the electric motor, and leading via the commutator bars contacted by the brush elements, and via coil windings of the rotor electrically connected to said commutator bars, wherein an oscillating input signal is fed into the motor current path and the rotation variable is determined with the aid of a ripple of a resultant output signal, said ripple being due to the mechanical commutation of the motor current path.