The invention relates to a method for monitoring a half bridge branch (38) in a half bridge (32), said half bridge branch (38) being connected in series with another half bridge branch (36) in the half bridge (32) via a center tap (30), including the steps of: —applying an electric supply potential (24) opposite the center tap (30) at the other half bridge branch (36) to the center tap (30) according to a predefined time curve (50); and —monitoring the half bridge branch (38) on the basis of a comparison (70) of the predefined time curve (50) and an electrical output potential (52) at the center tap (30).