The invention relates to an expansion valve for refrigerants in refrigerating plants or heat pumps, with a valve needle (14) guided axially displaceably within a valve housing (12) and closing a valve seat (34) in a closing position, and with a tappet (16) provided for actuating the valve needle (14) and movable in the direction of displacement (S) of the valve needle (14) by means of a stepping motor (20), a resiliently elastic force-transmission member (48) for compensating a temperature-related elongation being arranged between the valve needle (14) and the tappet (10). <IMAGE>