Methods and systems for detecting a half-wave condition in an electrical appliance are disclosed herein. The method can include providing, by an electronic controller, an input signal to a triac circuit for controlling an electric motor, the triac circuit configured to control the electric motor, and receiving, by the electronic controller, a feedback signal from a feedback circuit indicative of an output of the triac circuit. The method can further include determining that the feedback signal indicates a half-wave condition is present, generating a shutdown signal for the electric motor, and providing the shutdown signal, by the electronic controller, to the triac circuit.