A protection apparatus for a machine tool, at least for protecting a workpiece surface against overheating, includes at least one sensor unit and at least one evaluation unit. The sensor unit has at least one sensor element. The sensor element detects at least one characteristic variable of a fluid flow provided for transporting material removed from a workpiece. The evaluation enables identification of at least one temperature of a workpiece surface of the workpiece to be machined via the machine tool based at least in part upon the at least one characteristic variable detected via the sensor unit.