A fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated from the anode chamber, and a cathode gas source, a gas supply line connected to the cathode gas source, for feeding cathode gas into the cathode chamber, and an exhaust air line connected to the cathode chamber for the conducting exhaust air out of the cathode chamber. The gas supply line and the exhaust air line are connected by at least one gas flow regulation element, which opens the gas supply line in the direction of the exhaust air line and/or the exhaust air line in the direction of the gas supply line in dependence on an operating status of the fuel cell.