A hydrostatic axial piston machine (1) with a cylinder barrel (2) having at least one piston bore (3) in which is located a power unit piston (4) supported on a cam disk (18). A control surface (5) is stationary relative to the housing and is on a control base (6), against which control surface the cylinder barrel (2) is in contact. In the control base (6) there are a kidney-shaped inlet connection (8) and a kidney-shaped outlet connection (9). The sealing web surface on the control surface 5 on the control base (6) in the vicinity of the inlet connection (8) is reduced, so that in operation as a motor, when there is a pressurization of the inlet connection (8), a reduction of the hydrostatic relief force is achieved. In operation as a motor, a residual application of the cylinder barrel (2) against the control surface (5) from a hold-down force of a hold-down spring (24) that is in an operative connection with the cylinder barrel (2) and/or pressing cylinder compression forces is preserved. In addition or alternatively, the terminal areas of the kidney-shaped inlet connection (8) of the control base (6) have a transitional contour (K) in the shape of a flattened arc in the radially outer area.