A punching tool has a safety device prevents a punching die from being undesirably released from a guide housing when the punching tool is gripped at the head. The safety device has a base guide body securely mounted relative to the punching die at least with respect to a gripping force direction acting on the punching die and a counter guide body securely mounted relative to the housing at least with respect to the gripping force direction. The guide bodies are designed to ensure a secure interaction in at least one retaining relative circumferential position while allowing release of the punching die from the guide housing in the gripping force direction in a release relative circumferential position displaced relative to the retaining relative circumferential position in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis. As a result, an unwanted release of the punching die from the guide housing is securely prevented.