A drive shaft, in particular a longitudinal shaft for a motor vehicle, includes at least one hollow shaft cross-section and at least one homocinetic joint whose external hub is connected to the hollow shaft cross-section. The homocinetic joint is sealed off from the hollow shaft section by a lid, the lid and the hollow shaft section being configured and disposed so that the inner hub of the homocinetic joint does not penetrate significantly into the hollow shaft section as a result of an axial force that act on it, such as an axial force resulting from an accident.