A motor-operated hand-held device (1), such as a drilling device, has a rotary spindle 6 located in and projecting out of a housing (2). Rotational movement of a driving motor (8) is transmitted to a tool (7) situated in an end of the rotary spindle (6). A safety device (11) within the housing (2) prevents deflection of the housing about an axis (A) of the rotary spindle (6) in the event the tool (7) becomes suddenly jammed. The safety device (11) can be activated by a detection device (12) if the tool becomes jammed. The safety device (11) is located inside the housing 2 adjacent to the rotary spindle (6) and is formed of at least two component parts which cooperate in frictional engagement in the event the device is activated. One of the component parts is connected to the housing (2) and the other is connected to the rotary spindle (6). In the event the tool (7) becomes jammed, the component parts of the safety device (11) couple the housing (2) and the rotary spindle (6) so that the two parts are fixed so that they do not rotate relative to one another. Further, an overload slip clutch (10) is located in a drive (9) for the rotary spindle (6) and is arranged in series with the safety device (11).