A load lock for a substrate container for receiving flat substrates, wherein the load lock has a load chamber for receiving the substrate container that has a bottom, a ceiling, a rear wall, a front wall, a first side wall and a second side wall that connect the rear wall to the front wall, and wherein a carrier unit for receiving the substrate container is arranged in the load chamber. Here, it is provided that the load chamber can be divided into a first part and a second part along a dividing plane to open the load chamber, wherein the dividing plane extends toward the rear wall offset from the front wall through the first side wall, the second side wall, the bottom and the ceiling of the load chamber.