A method for operating an electrical network, in particular of a hybrid motor vehicle, the network having at least one electrical accumulator, in particular a high-voltage accumulator, at least one electric machine, and at least one inverter controlling the electric machine, the electrical accumulator being electrically disconnected from the network when a malfunction is detected and the inverter being switched to a short-circuit operating mode when a specifiable voltage limit of a network voltage of the network is subsequently exceeded. There is a provision for switching power semiconductors of the inverter in such a way that the driven electric machine induces a voltage and provides it via free-wheeling diodes on the electrical network and the induced voltage is used for operating the electric machine as a generator such that a specifiable network voltage is set by the electric machine.