Damage to an inverter due to an excessively high start-up current, when using space vector control without a voltage sensor in conjunction with small connection inductances, can be prevented with a method for controlling the inverter, and with a corresponding controller, wherein the controller is configured to transmit in a start-up phase of an inverter circuit a control signal to a control input of the inverter circuit, wherein the control signal simultaneously switches three first semiconductor switches, which are connected to a first DC voltage terminal of the inverter circuit, temporarily into a conducting state.