Abstract: A check valve (4) with spherical, spring-loaded valve head (25) is used for pulsating flows, especially in a fuel injection system for Otto engines. As a result of low flow resistance, such check valves have had a tendency to cause noise when the valve head (25) strikes down against the valve seat (11) during pulsating of the flow caused by selective opening of the fuel injection nozzles. The valve head (25) is designed with a flange (7) downstream of the valve seat (11), and this flange (7) interacts with a narrow boring (13) during the first part of the opening stroke. Consequently, a secondary throttling (12) is formed, in addition to the primary throttling between the valve head (25) and the valve seat (11), which contributes to the valve head being forced away at a distance from the valve seat.