A light guide for a lighting device, wherein the light guide extends along a longitudinal axis and has a coupling-out area which runs over the longitudinal axis and from which light can be emitted along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the light guide has, in its longitudinal extent, an end region which is provided with a cover in order to suppress high-intensity light emission in the end region. The cover is formed by laser-machining the light guide material in the end region of the light guide. The invention further relates to a method for forming a cover in the end region of the light guide.