Abstract: A fluid-operated percussion device (1) having a percussive piston (3), which alternately executes a work stroke and a return stroke due to the effect of a control. To avoid no-load strikes, in one embodiment of the percussion device (1), the percussive piston (3) is shut down if it has overshot the extended position occurring in normal operation (long- and/or short-stroke operation) by a predetermined distance in the work-stroke direction (arrow 3e) and reached a no-load-strike position. For this purpose, the interior (2d) of the work cylinder (2) that receives the percussive piston (3) additionally has a no-load-strike opening (20a), which is connected to the pressure line (8) of the percussion device (1) with an interposed safety element (21) that can be switched between an inoperative position and an operative position.