Abstract: In a device for controlling an electric motor, especially in motor vehicles, for setting a setting element, moved by the electric motor, as a function of the deviation of an actual setting from a nominal setting of the setting element, by means of a controller, which contains a microprocessor that carries out a hardware initialization routine at least in one step and a software initialization routine optionally in a second step, once the controller has been switched on, before the actual setting of the setting element can be determined in the controller, the microprocessor is constructed in such a manner that it short-circuits the electric motor independently of the actual setting of the setting element, directly after the hardware initialization routine, by generating a defined switching state of its outputs, associated with the control of the electric motor.