A drive circuit for driving a semiconductor switch includes an overload detector circuit connected to the semiconductor switch and designed to detect an overload state of the semiconductor switch. The drive circuit further includes a driver circuit connected to a control terminal of the semiconductor switch and designed to generate, upon detection of an overload state, a driver signal having a level such that the semiconductor switch is switched off or switch-on is prevented. The driver circuit is further designed to generate a driver signal for driving the semiconductor switch according to a control signal, wherein for switching on the transistor at a first instant a driver signal is generated at a first level and, if no overload state is detected up to a predefined time period having elapsed, the level of the driver signal is increased to a second level.