The present invention relates to switching element protection of a BLDC motor, such as used with a power tool. The present invention checks each switching element of a power stage individually for a short circuit when a trigger of the tool is actuated. Each switching element is turned ON for a period of time (such as 1-5 microseconds, for example), current flowing through the half-bridge or the full power stage is measured, and that switching element is turned OFF. When the current is greater than or equal to a threshold (such as 5 A, for example), the controller stops and indicates a fault condition. By testing each switching element in order, the controller is able to determine whether the shorted switching element is the opposite one in the half-bridge being tested.