An inverter for an electric machine as well as a method for operating an inverter for an electric machine. In this context, the inverter has at least one output stage unit for producing a connection between the electric machine and a power supply network, a control unit for controlling the at least one output stage unit, a supply unit independent of the power supply network for the power supply of the output stage unit(s), at least one emergency operation control assigned to the output stage unit(s) for controlling the output stage unit(s) in the fault case, as well as at least one emergency operation supply assigned to the output stage unit(s) for generating a power supply for the output stage unit(s) from the power supply network in the fault case.