A circuit arrangement for switching an inductive load (12, 12a-d) with connections to a power supply source (11, 11′, 11″) by means of which an exciter voltage can be applied to the inductive load (12, 12a-d) in a switched-on state is described, comprising switching means by means of which, depending on a control signal, a power circuit comprising the inductive load (12, 12a-d) and the power supply source connections, can be closed when switched from the switched-off to the switched-on state and opened when switched from the switched-on to the switched-off state, furthermore comprising a first diode (15, 15a-d, 15a′-c′, 15a″-c″) arranged in parallel with the inductive load (12, 12a-d) and so as to block in the switched-on state. This present invention is characterized in that an additional commutation inductance (18) is provided which is arranged in parallel with the inductive load (12, 12a-d) and in series with the first diode (15, 15a-d, 15a′-c′, 15a″-c″).