The fuel injector has a housing that is formed from at least one nozzle tension nut, a first injector module and a second injector module. The first injector module and the second injector module adjoin one another and are disposed in the nozzle tension nut. A fuel high-pressure bore is led through the first injector module and the second injector module. A fuel return bore is disposed in the housing. Contact surfaces between the injector modules form a first gap that adjoins the high-pressure bore. Contact surfaces between the nozzle tension nut and the injector modules form a second gap that is connected to the first gap. The return line adjoins the second gap for the discharge of fuel that has entered the second gap from the high-pressure bore via the first gap. The fuel injector is such that the second gap is sealed off relative to the surroundings of the fuel injector.