A suction extraction device has a fan, a suction head, a channel leading from the suction head to the fan, a dust filter and a collection container to hold the dust that has been deposited on the dust filter. The suction head has a tubular cavity that is arranged around the working axis and that serves to accommodate the connection section of the suction drill bit. Arranged in the cavity is a flow sensor that has a sensor surface facing the working axis and that serves to emit a measuring signal that is indicative of the air flow that is striking the sensor surface. An evaluation unit emits an error signal in response to the measuring signal if the measuring signal is lower than a threshold value for at least a prescribed period of time, whereas it suppresses the error signal if the measuring signal exceeds the threshold value during the prescribed period of time. A signaling unit displays the error signal to a user.