The hydraulic play compensation device, having an outer cylinder part which is closed on one side by a base and in which a piston element which lies on its inside is guided so as to be longitudinally displaceable, with a guide gap, having an oil pressure space having an oil inlet which supplies the oil supply space, and having a connecting duct controlled by a nonreturn valve between the oil supply space and the oil pressure space. For optimized removal of air which is introduced via the oil inlet, it is proposed that a ventilation path which connects the oil supply space and the guide gap is formed in the piston element downstream of the oil inlet and upstream of the connecting duct.