The present motor control device detects from the speed of a motor and a current driving the motor that the motor is overloaded, and exerts control to set a target torque based on the detected overload state of the motor to cause the motor to output a maximal torque that the motor can output, intermittently within a preset allowable speed range. If the motor is overloaded, the motor's output torque is not decreased and a drive circuit can also be protected.