A power conversion apparatus includes positive-side and negative-side switching elements, positive-side and negative-side gate drive circuits, and a gate signal controller. The positive-side switching element is disposed between a positive-side direct-current bus and an output node. The negative-side switching element is disposed between a negative-side direct-current bus and the output node. The positive-side and negative-side gate drive circuit are configured to turn on and off the positive-side and negative-side switching elements, respectively. The gate signal controller is configured to transmit to the positive-side and negative-side gate drive circuits gate signals to instruct turning on and off the positive-side and negative-side switching elements. The gate signal controller is configured to, when a short circuit between the positive-side direct-current bus and the negative-side direct-current bus is detected, transmit to the positive-side gate drive circuit a first gate signal and transmit to the negative-side gate drive circuit a second gate signal.