A method for operating an electronically commutated servo motor includes activating the servo motor by a voltage space vector generated in accordance with a commutation pattern on the basis of a predefined torque and a rotor position of a rotor of the servo motor in accordance with an optimization target. The method further includes predefining an activation range that indicates a range of permissible voltage space vectors. The servo motor is activated in such a way that only voltage space vectors within the activation range are used.