A method and a system are described for controlling an electrical machine in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, the electrical machine being used as a drive unit for the motor vehicle. A pilot control unit determines a pilot control torque as a function of a predefined target torque of the electrical machine, the pilot control unit having a transfer function that corresponds to an oscillation component of a transfer function, ascertained in model-supported fashion for the overall drivetrain, that describes a dependence of a rotation speed of the electrical machine on a torque with which the electrical machine is operated. A control unit for the electrical machine determines a corrected target torque for the electrical machine by superimposing the pilot control torque on the predefined target torque and controlling the electrical machine as a function of the corrected target torque.