The present disclosure comprises a gear manufacturing machine comprising a workpiece holder and a tool holder, which can each be caused to rotate by means of a drive, wherein the tool holder is arranged on a machining head, which can be moved relative to the workpiece holder by one or a plurality of motion axes of the gear manufacturing machine for gear manufacturing machining a workpiece held in the workpiece holder by means of a tool held in the tool holder, the tool holder having a counterholder. According to the present disclosure the counterholder is movable by a motion axis from its working position to an inactive position and/or is arranged on the machining head of the gear manufacturing machine in a releasably connectable manner.