A surgical instrument comprises a surgical end effector, an actuator mechanically coupled to the end effector for actuating the end effector, a handle mechanically coupled to the end effector and having an electric motor for supplying the actuator with power, and a post-termination breaking circuit including a power supply switch. The post-termination breaking circuit is operable to short-circuit a power supply to the motor when the power supply switch is in a power-removed state.