An aerosol-generating device (3) comprises an axially extending heating chamber (15) configured to at least partially receive an aerosol-generating article (5). The aerosol-generating device (3) further comprises a heater actuation mechanism (47) configured to move between an engaging configuration and a non-engaging configuration. The heater actuation mechanism (47) is configured to act on a heater (7) in the engaging configuration to operate the heater (7) to generate heat. The heater actuation mechanism (47) is configured to not act on the heater (7) in the non-engaging configuration to stop generation of the heat by the heater (7). The heater actuation mechanism (47) comprises an operating element (57). The operating element (57) is configured to be moved to move the heater actuation mechanism (47) from the non-engaging configuration into the engaging configuration. The aerosol-generating device (3) further comprises a blocking mechanism (59). The blocking mechanism (59) is configured to temporarily block a movement of the heater actuation mechanism (47) from the engaging configuration into the non-engaging configuration or from the non-engaging configuration into the engaging configuration.