Abstract: A motor control system includes a multi-phase motor, a multi-phase inverter circuit, a plurality of controllable switches, a plurality of sensors, and a monitor circuit. Each controllable switch is coupled in series between a second terminal of the motor and a common winding node and is responsive to switch commands to operate in either a first switch mode or a second switch mode. The monitor circuit is responsive to sensor signals to determine when one or more of the sensed motor state variables attains a predetermined threshold magnitude and when one or more of the sensed motor state variables attains the predetermined threshold magnitude, to supply a switch command to one or more of the controllable switches that causes the one or more controllable switches to operate in the second switch mode.