A portable handheld work apparatus has a housing (2) which has at least one intake opening (20). A drive motor (4) is mounted in the housing (2) and this drive motor drives a fan wheel (9). The fan wheel (9) inducts a cooling airflow (26) into the housing (2) through the intake opening (20). The cooling airflow (26) is moved to the drive motor (4) by the fan wheel (9). A driven drive element rotating about the rotational axis (35) is provided. To prevent a wrapping of long-fibrous material onto the rotating drive element, it is provided that the drive element is surrounded at least partially by a wrap protector (19, 39) fixed to the housing. The wrap protector has a radially outwardly directed flange (28) referred to the rotational axis (35). The flange (28) is at a distance (a) to an adjacent, rotatably driven component.