A surge arrester is disclosed. In an embodiment the surge arrester includes a first electrode for applying a first voltage potential to the surge arrester, a second electrode for applying a second voltage potential to the surge arrester, and a short-circuiting link for short-circuiting the first and second electrodes. The surge arrester further includes a retaining element for retaining the short-circuiting link, wherein the retaining element is embodied in such a way that it keeps the short-circuiting link at a distance from the first and second electrodes when a temperature is below a threshold value, and it shifts the short-circuiting link such that the short-circuiting link is pressed against the first and second electrodes and a short-circuit is produced between the first and second electrodes when the temperature exceeds the threshold value.