A method for operating a control circuit having a first output and a second output and having an allocated first switching arrangement and an allocated second switching arrangement, in which a control voltage present between the outputs for operating a load, in particular of a motor vehicle, is formed in that the first output is optionally connected by a switching arrangement to a first potential or to a second potential, and the second output is optionally connected by a switching arrangement to the first potential or to the second potential, a state in which the control voltage is intended to be at least briefly and at least approximately zero being brought about in a first case in that the two outputs are simultaneously connected by the two switching arrangements to the first potential, and being brought about in a second case in that the two outputs are simultaneously connected by the two switching arrangements to the second potential, both cases being brought about at least once during operation of the control circuit, and, both in the first case and in the second case, a difference between two output potentials that characterizes the control voltage present at the outputs, or that characterizes a current flowing through at least one shunt resistor situated in series to the outputs and/or in series to switches, being acquired and being subjected to a comparison.