An air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle unit, a bypass tube (30), a discharge temperature sensor (28), and a control device (40). The refrigeration cycle unit is formed by sequentially connecting a variable speed compressor (21), an outdoor heat exchanger (23), a pressure reduction device (24), an indoor heat exchanger (51), and an accumulator (25). The bypass tube (30) interconnects the discharge side of the compressor (21) and the exit side of the accumulator (25) and has a two-way valve (31). The discharge temperature sensor (28) detects the temperature of the compressor (21). The control device (40) opens and closes, when the compressor (21) is started, the two-way valve (31) according to the temperature detected by the discharge temperature sensor (28) and limits the operation speed of the compressor (21) to a level not more than a predetermined value.