The problem of controlling sensorless induction motors with uncertain constant load torque and rotor resistance on the basis of stator current measurements only is addressed. A new eighth-order dynamic nonlinear adaptive control algorithm is designed, which relies on a closed loop adaptive observer for the unmeasured state variables (rotor speed and fluxes) and for the uncertain parameters and is not based on non-robust open loop integration of flux dynamics. Local exponential stability of the closed loop tracking and estimation error dynamics is achieved under persistency of excitation conditions which restrict the reference signals and may be interpreted in terms of motor observability and rotor resistance identifiability. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.