The invention relates to a method for actuating an inverter (10) by means of space vector pulse width modulation, in particular for actuating an electrical machine (14), wherein the inverter (10) has a plurality of controllable switches (S) and is configured to provide a multi-phase electrical voltage (U, V, W) in the form of a voltage space vector (V*), wherein the controllable switches (S) are actuated in such a manner that different duty cycles of the switches (S) are set and a plurality of successive different switching states (V0-V7) of the switches (S) are set up to provide the voltage space vector (V*), wherein the duty cycles of the switches (S) are extended during a pulse width modulation period (T) if a duty cycle of one of the switches (S) falls below a predefined threshold (44) during the pulse width modulation period (T).