It is necessary to determine welding temperature as precisely as possible in order to properly control the high-frequency welding of longitudinal pipes. Changes in welding temperature are proportional to alterations in the welding current that flows through the edges of the skelp. Magnetic-field sensors can be used to directly and precisely determine alterations in the current and hence changes in the temperature. Voltages induced in the sensors can be processed into setting signals to correct the high-frequency welding generator and disruptions in the current used to generate signals to mark the site of failure on the pipe for subsequent rejection.