A mass compensating shaft drive for compensating forces or moments of inertia of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is provided having a balance shaft supported by at least one journal in a housing of the internal combustion engine. A rolling bearing is located between each of the at least one journals and the housing. The balance shaft includes an oil gallery that is adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized lubricating oil. A check valve is located between the oil gallery and each of the at least one bearing journals, with the check valve being arranged to open upon at least one of a lubricating oil pressure or a centrifugal force generated through rotation of the balance shaft exceeding a predetermined closing force for the check valve.