A reversible pneumatic vane motor includes a stator housing with a pressure air inlet passage and an exhaust air outlet passage, a cylinder supported in the stator housing, a vane carrying rotor rotatable in the cylinder and forming a clearance seal portion with the cylinder, air communication ports located at opposite sides of the seal portion for supplying motive pressure air or scavenging exhaust air from the cylinder, a primary outlet diametrically opposite the clearance seal portion, and a directional valve for connecting alternatively the air communication ports to the pressure air inlet passage and the exhaust air outlet passage. The motor also includes auxiliary outlet ports which are located between the primary outlet and each one of the air communication ports, and the directional valve includes control parts for opening up and closing, respectively, communication between the auxiliary outlet ports and the atmosphere via the exhaust air outlet passage.