Abstract: In a drilling device, a holder is provided that is displaceable with respect to a foot in a feed direction. A drilling machine tool is carried by the holder. An electromotor provides a feed drive for driving the holder in the feed direction. The drilling machine tool and/or the holder are displaceable relative to the feed drive in an opposite direction to the feed direction by overcoming a counterforce. A switching element monitors the relative displacement and enables a signal to be derived for stopping the feed drive if a predetermined value of counterforce is exceeded. Motor current is limited to a predetermined maximum value during operation of the device.