A circuit device and a method for safely disconnecting a semiconductor switching element, in particular a MOSFET, are provided, wherein the semiconductor switching element comprises a gate terminal, a source terminal and a drain terminal, wherein, during operation of the semiconductor switching element, a current path between the drain terminal and the source terminal can be reversibly disconnected by the gate terminal, and the gate terminal comprises a gate voltage potential and the source terminal comprises a source voltage potential. A fuse unit is arranged between the gate terminal and the source terminal, which fuse unit is set up and designed, as a function of a potential difference between the gate voltage potential and the source voltage potential, so as to electrically connect the gate terminal to the source terminal after the current path is disconnected, so that the gate voltage potential and the source voltage potential are adapted.