Circuit arrangement for controlling the current flow through a load in the case of detection of the current flow according to the current sense principle. The circuit arrangement has a load transistor and a plurality of auxiliary transistors of identical type, which have a control terminal which is connected or can be connected to the control terminal of the load transistor. In the case of the circuit arrangement according to the invention, provision is made of a switching mechanism by which the auxiliary transistors, optionally or depending on the load current or depending on a load path voltage dropped across the load path of the load transistor, can be connected in parallel individually or as a plurality.