Described herein is a method for identifying damage on a compressor having an intake side and a discharge side, including the following steps: (i) detecting measurement data of the intake pressure (p1) and intake temperature (T1) measurement variables on the intake side, as well as end pressure (p2) and end temperature (T2) on the discharge side; (ii) determining a calculated end temperature (T2b), a calculated intake temperature (T1b), a calculated end pressure (p2b) or a calculated intake pressure (p1b) as a target variable, representing a good operating state of the compressor, as a function of the measurement data of max. three of the measurement variables (p1, T1, p2, T2); (iii) determining a comparison variable from at least one of the measurement variables (p1, T1, p2, T2) not used in step (ii); and (iv) comparing the comparison variable and the target variable as a gauge of damage to the compressor.