A method for controlling an actuator includes providing the actuator with a control unit, a drive unit including an electric motor with a stator and a rotor, a rotor position sensor, connected to the control unit, for detecting a rotation of the rotor, and a displacer unit, drivable by the rotation of the rotor, for displacing a fluid. The displacer unit includes a geometric displacement volume per revolution of the rotor. The method also includes generating a predetermined pressure at the displacer unit by applying an electrical driving power to the electric motor, maintaining the predetermined pressure over a predetermined time interval, determining the rotation of the rotor with the rotor position sensor during the predetermined time interval, and determining a leakage volume flow.