A relay valve (2) includes a housing having a pressure medium inlet that can be connected to a pressure medium source, at least one pressure medium outlet that can be connected to a consumer, at least one control input, and at least one ventilation (32) leading to the atmosphere. The relay valve (2) has further a relay valve piston (14), which is arranged in the housing along a relay valve piston axis (16) in a slidable manner. The relay valve (2) has a first sealing element (54) fixed to the housing, and a second sealing element (56) fixed to the relay valve piston for sealing the relay valve piston (14) with respect to the housing. An annular space (58) having a connection to the atmosphere is defined by the first sealing element (54), the second sealing element (56), the relay valve piston (14), and the housing.