With a method for the safe starting and/or stopping a rotor of a rotor spinning machine for the production of yarn, with a multiple number of rotors, each of which rotates in a rotor housing covered by a lid, each rotor is driven by its own motor and is held in at least one radially and/or axially active magnetic bearing by means of a position controller. A data connection of the motor is provided with a control unit, in order to drive the rotor in various operating states. There is a check of the control for driving the rotor, the position control for the one or more active magnetic bearings, the data connection for controlling the motor and/or the properly closed lid, and, in the event that predetermined target values and/or states are not met, the start of the rotor is blocked or the motor that is already running is selectively stopped. A rotor spinning machine is suitable for carrying out the method.