A distance-measuring device for contactless measurement of a distance to an object, including a housing; a contactless measuring apparatus utilizing an optical measuring beam arranged in the housing and having a radiation unit, an optical unit with optical elements encompassing at least a transmitting and receiving lens system, an optical transmitting path with an optical axis for emitting a measuring beam onto the target object, an optical receiving path with an optical axis for receiving a measuring beam that is reflected and/or scattered by the target object. At least one optical element is movable relative to an initial position; a motion sensor detects a movement of the object, the optical element movable out of the initial position into a variable compensation position so that the transmitting path can be stabilized at a spatially fixed position.