Abstract: A device for controlling a hydraulic motor (10) comprises a directional valve (15) connected to a pressure fluid pump (11; 50) via a feed passage (17) and a pilot valve (19) activated safety shut-off valve (18) incorporated in the pressure fluid feed passage (17) between the pump (11; 50) and the directional valve (15) and shiftable from a normally open position to a closed position to, thereby, block the fluid communication between the pump (11; 50) and the directional valve (15) in emergency situations. A shunt valve (16) for short circuiting at least a part of the pump flow to a tank or, alternatively a displacement adjusting means (51) of a variable displacement pump (50) are activated by a load sensing pressure derived from a load sensing port (15e) on the directional valve (15), which load sensing pressure is discharged to tank (12) via the shut-off valve (18) as the latter is shifted to its closed position.