The invention relates to an axial piston machine having a swash plate, a drive shaft having a driving mechanism, one or more driving mechanism pivots displaceable therein and whose piston stroke can be set by the swash plate, a mechanical adjustment unit for changing the pivot angle of the swash plate, and an externally controllable control valve. The control valve has a valve housing having a control displaceable control piston, with the adjustment device being hydraulically actuable by the control valve. An adjustment chamber of the control valve is connectable in dependence on the switched state of the control valve to a high pressure inlet or to a low pressure inlet for the hydraulic pressurization of the adjustment device via a setting pressure connection radially extending through the control piston. A connection between a high pressure inlet and a setting pressure connection can be selectively established in regular operation via a first control edge or between the low pressure inlet and the setting pressure connection via a second control edge. In a first aspect, a connection can be established between the low pressure inlet or high pressure inlet via a further control edge in emergency operation without an active control. In a second aspect, a control pressure inlet of the control valve is connectable to a hydraulic tank or to a hydraulic source via an integrated or attached valve. The invention further relates to a control valve for an axial piston machine in accordance with the first aspect.