The invention relates to a circuit for controlling an electrically activated motor vehicle door lock or the like, with a lock latch (1) and a detent pawl (2) which keeps the lock latch (1) in the closed position and with an electric motorized auxiliary closing drive (4) which is turned on after the lock latch (1) has reached a preclosing position and then moves the lock latch (1) by motor into the main closing position, there being a switch (16) which recognizes the preclosing position, especially a lock latch switch which scans the position of the lock latch (1). The structure of the circuit is especially simple in that the negative pole (18) of the auxiliary closing drive (4) is always connected to ground or negative potential and the positive pole (19) is switched and is either at the positive potential of the vehicle voltage or at ground or is floated and that there is only one switch (16) and the switch (16) is between the ground and a switch terminal (20) and causes switching of the auxiliary closing drive (4). Here it is especially feasible if the auxiliary closing drive (4) shuts off automatically when the lock latch (1) reaches the closed position, especially when the overstroke position of the lock latch (1) which is somewhat on the other side of the closed position is reached, when therefore the positive pole (19) of the auxiliary closing drive (4) is then at ground or negative potential or is open. This applies especially when the criterion for shutting off the auxiliary closing drive (4), when the closed position is reached, especially when the overstroke position of the lock latch (1) which is somewhat on the other side of the closed position is reached, is the power consumption of the auxiliary closing drive (4).