Abstract: An apparatus for pelletizing strands of polymer emerging in molten form from dies with a pelletizer, in which apparatus a cooling section carrying a coolant flow and a dewatering section are provided between the dies and the pelletizer, a running-in rest being arranged upstream of the pelletizer, adjoining the dewatering section and provided with at least one air-nozzle arrangement, which is arranged transversely to the running direction of the strands, is designed as a step in the running-in rest and is intended for generating a stream of air directed essentially parallel to the running direction of the strands, which takes with it the strands supplied to the running-in rest.