Abstract: An apparatus is described for bracing of sheet-metal joints (1) in a high-temperature annealing furnace having at least one carrier (2), which frontally receives a sheet-metal joint (1) and has a central axial passage opening (6), on which a support pipe (5), which axially penetrates the sheet-metal joint (1), having a carrier (2) for receiving a further sheet-metal joint (1) can optionally be placed in a load-bearing manner. In order to provide advantageous heating conditions, it is proposed that the carrier (2) has a ring body (7) forming the passage opening (6), having radially protruding carrier arms (8) distributed around the circumference.