The invention relates to a protective collar for at least partially receiving an actuating element which extends through a housing of a control unit and projects beyond an outer side of the housing. The protective collar has a base with a through-opening and a first circumferential collar radially spaced from the through-opening and extending from an upper surface of the base in a first direction. The first collar has at least two cut-outs such that the first collar forms at least two wings, wherein at least one of the wings has at least one predetermined breaking point extending in the circumferential direction.