Electrosurgical instrument including a handpiece which has a connection side (A) and a treatment side (B), and including a connecting plug which is electrically connected to the connection side (A) of the handpiece and is electrically connectable to a high-frequency generator, wherein the electrosurgical instrument includes a control unit which is designed to actively control the voltage waveform of high-frequency energy which is output on the treatment side (B) of the handpiece.