An organic EL display apparatus which can improve the reliability thereof, by avoiding a leak current which occurs after an operating time, without reducing the product yield. The organic EL display apparatus is comprised of an organic EL panel section, and a driving section which has a reverse voltage restriction unit (means for restricting a reverse voltage) for restricting a reverse voltage which is applied when organic EL devices are not lighted. When a breakdown voltage with respect to a preset thickness d_o of the organic material layer has been V_b, the reverse voltage restriction unit will not only set the reverse voltage V_m (to be applied during a non-lighting period) to V_m()V_b, but also restrict the continuous applying time of this reverse voltage V_m within a preset period.