In the course of a method for handling a workpiece having at least one through-opening, at least one suction element and the workpiece are placed against each other to form a suction chamber. A vacuum is generated in the suction chamber in order to fix the workpiece and the suction element to each other with a holding force for subsequent manipulation of the workpiece. The workpiece and the suction element are fixed to each other with a holding force by at least partially providing at least one through-opening of the workpiece opening into the suction chamber with a covering in order to reduce the flow of air through the through-opening to the suction chamber after the vacuum has been generated. A workpiece handling system is used to carry out the above-mentioned method.