An elevator system has a counterweight moveable in an elevator shaft for a weight equalization of an elevator car which can move in an opposite direction to the counterweight. A protective screen is arranged in a shaft pit of the elevator shaft and has a vertical portion oriented substantially parallel to a movement path of the counterweight. The protective screen prevents a person located in the shaft pit from entering the movement path of the counterweight. The protective screen has a horizontally arranged angulation, wherein an angled portion of the protective screen that adjoins the angulation extends into the projection of the counterweight in the movement direction.