The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for controlling the temperature of an electric heating element (10), where the resistance of the element is utilized as a measure of the temperature. When the element is switched on, the current flowing through the element is scanned by a small measuring resistor (16). The voltage drop (U.sub.1) arising over this resistor is compared to a reference value (U.sub.2) for interrupting the effect supply to the element when the element has achieved the desired temperature. Thereafter a weak test current is fed through the element, and a voltage drop (U.sub.3) dependant on the element temperature is compared to an additional reference value (U.sub.4) for again connecting the effect feed when the element temperature has dropped to a predetermined level. By means of the invention, which can be used for the temperature control of, for example, electrically heated car seats, both continuous temperature control and adjustable on/off-hysteresis are obtained.