A reciprocating piston machine includes a drive shaft having a central axis, a driving element rigidly connected to the drive shaft and extending essentially perpendicular to the central axis, a guide sleeve enclosing the drive shaft and axially displaceable thereon, and a spring element for applying a force to the guide sleeve and which on the one hand is supported on the guide sleeve and which on the other hand introduces forces into the drive shaft. Forces from the spring element are indirectly introduced into the drive shaft.