A switching converter including a rectifier element with nonlinear capacitance. One embodiment provides a switching element configured to be driven in the on state and in the off state. A first capacitive element is between the load path terminals of the switching element and has a nonlinear capacitance characteristic curve dependent on a voltage between the load path connections. A rectifier element is coupled between the inductive storage element and the capacitive storage element such that it enables a current flow between the inductive storage element and the capacitive storage element when the switching element is driven in the off state. A second capacitive element is between the load path terminals of the rectifier element and has a nonlinear capacitance characteristic curve dependent on a voltage between the load path connections.