A rotor spinning machine and associated method are provided for preparing a yarn end for spinning-in at a rotor spinning device, wherein the rotor spinning machine has a rotor housing that is closable with a cover and subjected to negative pressure through a negative pressure channel. A spinning rotor is rotatably mounted in the rotor housing and rotates with an operating rotational speed during a spinning operation. With the method, the yarn end is introduced into the negative pressure channel. The yarn end is then interrupted with a severing structure defined on an open edge of the rotating spinning rotor. During the interruption of the yarn end, the spinning rotor is driven with a defined rotational speed for the preparation of the yarn end that is equal to or less than an operating rotational speed of the spinning rotor.