A handheld work apparatus has a combustion engine with a cylinder. A removable cover is fixed via a closure. The closure includes a tensioning element rotatable about a rotational axis and, in the locked position of the closure, is supported on a tension contour. The closure has a damping element. The damping element is held on a section of the cylinder in the axial direction of the rotational axis. During rotation from unlocked into locked position, the tensioning element is moved by the tension contour in the axial direction of the rotational axis. In the locked position of the closure, the tensioning element clamps the section of the cylinder in the axial direction of the rotational axis between a first abutment and a second abutment of the damping element. In the unlocked position of the closure, the tensioning element is held on the damping element on the cylinder.