Described is a drive chain (10) comprising chain links composed of link plate pairs (4, 5), said chain links being movable relative to one another, especially for driving steps of an escalator or pallets of a moving walkway. The chain has a chain pin (1) which connects a pair of link plates and is arranged such that it movably extends through a sleeve (2), which carries a rotatable protective roller (7). A sliding bushing (3), which prevents free play between the sleeve and the protective roller, is clamped between the sleeve and the protective roller is. The sliding bushing is preferably designed such that it rests in some sections against the sleeve and in some sections against the protective roller. For this purpose, on at least part of the circumference thereof in the radial direction of the sliding bushing, the sliding bushing may have elastically deformable sections resting against the sleeve, with the cylindrical section of the sliding bushing resting against the inner circumference of the protective roller.