An impact protection device for a rod for positioning thread guides in a circular knitting machine. The thread guide has an approach and spacing unit formed of a rod and crank system. The end of the rod carries the thread guide and an intermediate region of the rod has a longitudinal slot which is slidably guided on a stud that is rigidly coupled to a fixed arm. The device has a compression spring mounted on the stud which presses the rod against the arm. Elastic elements mounted on a rod articulation pivot pus the rod against the crank. The spring and elastic elements allow small movements of the rod from the plane of arrangement of the path of the rod in case of impact with, or scraping against, another rod.