The invention relates to a safety device for a high-voltage system, having a coupling device which switchably couples high-voltage components of the high-voltage system to external components, and which is designed to electrically separate the high-voltage components from the external components depending on actuation of a safety switch, having a discharge circuit which is designed to electrically discharge the high-voltage components depending on actuation of the safety switch, and having a monitoring device which is designed to monitor electric parameters of the discharge circuit or of the high-voltage components, and to release the lock of a housing for the high-voltage components if at least one of the electric parameters of the discharge circuit or of the high-voltage components falls below a predetermined threshold value.