Abstract: A method and circuit for monitoring phase voltages of a polyphase tachometer generator to detect a phase failure, where the tachometer generator is associated with a rotor position transmitter. The phase voltages are added up by a summing stage to form an auxiliary voltage. The auxiliary voltage is sampled at every commutation instant determined by a rotor position signal generated by the rotor position transmitter during a predetermined measuring time. This sampled voltage value is compared with a predetermined voltage value range. An indication of a tachometer fault is displayed as soon as a sampled voltage value is outside the predetermined voltage value range. By this method and circuit, a fault which occurs between two commutation instants can be detected at the next commutation instant.