The invention relates to a pneumatic drive, comprising a pneumatic drive unit (1), which has a piston (3) that can be moved between a first position and a second position. The piston is accelerated and braked by means of compressed air, which is fed to or led away from the pneumatic drive unit by means of valve arrangements (8, 9) having distribution valves (16, 17, 21, 22). In at least one distribution valve (17, 22), a damping throttle (20, 25) is provided, which has a differential pressure piston (28), which can be moved as a function of the compression pressure, whereby the free throttle cross-section (49) through which the compressed air flows can be changed as a function of the compression pressure.