A method of detecting a mechanical decoupling in a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance includes a rotatable basket and a motor configured to drive the rotatable basket. The method includes determining a target rotational speed and activating the motor at a first rotational speed proportional to the determined target rotational speed. The method further includes determining an actual rotational speed after activating the motor at the first rotational speed and comparing the actual rotational speed to the target rotational speed. When the actual rotational speed is greater than the target rotational speed, the method determines that the motor is decoupled from the basket.