A method for dealing with faults in an electrical drive system having an electrical machine and a pulse-controlled inverter which has a first and a second supply connection, the method comprising the steps of: detecting a first fault in the electrical drive system; selecting a first of a large number of circuit states (22, 23, 24) of the pulse-controlled inverter according to the detected first fault; and driving the pulse-controlled inverter to set the first circuit state (23), with the circuit states (22, 23, 24) comprising a short circuit (23) between the power connections of the electrical machine and the first supply connection, a short circuit (24) between the power connections of the electrical machine and the second power connection, and a free-running mode (22).