In a device for limiting the advance during a drilling operation, which can be used in conjunction with a hand drill or with an automatic manufacturing machine, the device comprising a housing with a stop cage and a spindle mounted rotatably and axially displaceably in the housing, and a stop which is adjustable in the axial direction being arranged for limiting the advance, the invention consists in that the stop cage (2a) comprises a pin fixed to the housing for breaking the chips, with a housing-side end and a free end, in such a way that it extends approximately parallel and directly adjacent to the workpiece surface and approximately radially from the outside towards the drilling tool in such a way that its free end almost touches the countersink. Damage to the surface of workpieces is prevented by the invention, so that corresponding refinishing is avoided. Moreover, the removal of the coiled chips from the drilling tool previously necessary after each drilling cycle is dispensed with.