The present invention relates to a machinery brake for an elevator. The machinery brake comprises a frame part comprising an electromagnet and an armature part, wherein the machinery brake further comprising an inductive proximity sensor mounted to one of the following: the frame part, the armature part and a target mounted to the other of the following: the frame part, armature part. The inductive proximity sensor and the target are mounted with respect to each other so that in a normal state of the machinery brake the target resides within an operational area of the inductive proximity sensor and in an abnormal state of the machinery brake the target resides at least partly outside the operational area of the inductive proximity sensor. The invention also relates to a method therein.