The disclosure relates to a drug delivery device, comprising: an outer needle sleeve; a cartridge containing a dosage of a medicament and sealed with a sealing element that is arranged across an open distal end of the cartridge; a cartridge carrier adapted to hold the cartridge; a needle hub adapted to hold a double ended hollow needle; an inner needle sleeve arranged between the needle hub and the cartridge carrier; a removable cap coupled to the inner needle sleeve and adapted to cover and seal the needle; and a first locking mechanism adapted to lock the inner needle sleeve against axial movement in the proximal direction with respect to the cartridge carrier in an initial state, wherein in the initial state, the needle is spaced from the cartridge in the distal direction, and wherein the first locking mechanism is releasable by a rotational movement of the cap with respect to the outer needle sleeve.