A starting device for an internal combustion engine includes a pulley mounted rotatably in a housing which can be set in rotation by a tension means to produce a drive torque for a motor shaft by a starter handle and which is connected to an engaging member by a damping spring. The drive torque is transmitted to the motor shaft to start the internal combustion engine, whereby under torsion of the damping spring, a twisting of the pulley against the engaging member is rendered possible until a stop element impacts against a counter-stop to delimit the twisting, which enables a high operational readiness of the starting device. In the case of a defect of the damping spring, the stop element and/or the counter-stop is formed from a material which has a higher strength than the material of the engaging member and/or the material of the pulley.