An actuating device for automatically actuating a manual transmission, which has an output element that can be driven in a first direction by a first drive and in a second direction by a second drive. Each drive is assigned a sensor which displays an actuating movement and detects a movement if the output element and whose signals are fed to a control device. In the case of a movement of the output element the sensors output to the control device signals assigned to this movement, the signals specifying the respective magnitude of the movement. The control device uses the signals with reference to an arbitrary prescribable reference point to determine the actual position of the output element and relate the actual position to a desired position of the output element which is to be approached, with the perception that the desired position has not been reached after termination of an actuating movement, or the absence of the signals which indicate the actuating movement causing the control device to activate an emergency function.