In a direct current brake circuit for braking a three-phase, short-circuit rotor motor, a thyristor and diode are connected between the motor and its three phase supply, via controllable switches, overvoltage protection components are connected to the thyristor and the diode, and protective circuitry is connected to cause the thyristor and diode to be connected to the motor stator and to the motor supply, and the braking voltage to be applied to the motor stator, under no load conditions.