The invention relates to a method for calibrating the control of an electrical machine, comprising the steps of: applying at least one electrical test signal having a specified direction in a d-q coordinate system to the electrical machine; measuring the change in the rotor angle of a rotor of the electrical machine according to the applied at least one electrical test signal; and calibrating the control of the electrical machine, the control being carried out using the d-q coordinate system, and the orientation of the d-q coordinate system being determined on the basis of the measured change in the rotor angle of the rotor of the electrical machine.