Exhaust gas check valve with a movable valve element held by a plurality of return springs, an exhaust gas through-opening closable by the valve element, and a stop element delimiting the stroke of the valve element; in order to improve the service life of the check valve, damping means are provided in the check valve for bringing about a comparatively gentle breaking of the valve element when at the end of its stroke it approaches that position in which the check valve is fully open, the damping means comprising spring elements holding the stop element, and/or a gas space which, when the check valve is open, is defined and at least almost closed by the valve element and the stop element.