A method of controlling a step switch. From the measured values of current, voltage and phase angle at an electric drive motor during actuation of the step switch the individual picked-up active output is calculated. From the active output the corresponding torque at the drive motor is calculated. The torque in the step switch which is crucial for controlling is determined on the basis of the torque by using a specifically calculated transfer function. The transfer function is newly determined every time the switch is actuated, with the values of the preceding switch operation or the preceding switch operations being taken as a basis of the new calculation.