A method is provided for determining a laser threshold of a laser diode, which is operated by a drive circuit as a function of a first signal in a first feedback and a second signal in a second feedback, the first feedback being supplied via an optical coupling of an optical output signal of the laser diode. The method is characterized in that the second feedback is supplied by an electrical signal picked up between the drive circuit and the laser diode, the electrical signal is compared with an adjustable activation threshold, only a portion of the electrical signal that exceeds the adjustable activation threshold is transmitted to the drive circuit in such a way that the second feedback is active only when such a portion occurs, the adjustable activation threshold is changed in such a way that the activity state of the second feedback changes, and the laser threshold of the laser diode is determined as a function of the value of the adjustable activation threshold during a change in the activity state of the second feedback. Furthermore, a drive circuit is presented which carries out the method.