An electronic switch includes a current sensor and a semiconductor switch having two semiconductors configured to carry and disconnect a current in both directions, and a control circuit configured to operate the semiconductor switch by pulse-width modulation and to determine a phase control factor of the pulse-width modulation as a function of measurement values of the current sensor such that in fault-free operation, the electronic switch remains in the ON state and that two limit values exist for protection. The electronic switch is operated by pulse-width modulation when a first one of the two limit values is exceeded, and the electronic switch is switched off when a second one of the two limit values, which is greater than the first limit value, is exceeded. The electronic switch is configured to reduce an edge steepness of a switching edge as the phase control factor decreases.