An apparatus for shaking individual sample containers including an upper end with an opening and a lower closed end, the apparatus including a holder with which the sample container can, with its lower end, be brought into engagement such that, when the holder moves, the lower end of the sample container is also moved; a drive connected to the holder and moving the holder for shaking the sample container in a, particularly, horizontal plane; a sensor which, once a sample container is arranged at a defined position in the holder, generates a start signal and, once the sample container is removed from the defined position in the holder, generates a stop signal for the drive, wherein the drive is designed such that it continues to move the holder for a defined coast-down time after a stop signal has been generated by the sensor.