The invention is based on a rechargeable battery-operated hand machine tool (10) having an electric drive motor (18) accommodated in a housing (12) and powered by a rechargeable battery (20), which motor is used to drive a tool (16), and having an actuating means (14) for switching the drive motor (18) on and off.A mechanism (22) is provided, which is capable of reducing the discharging of the battery (20) during operation.