An exhaust-gas cooler includes a housing having a bypass duct and a cooling zone having arranged therein an exhaust-gas cooling duct which includes an entry cooling duct, at least one reversing duct connected to the entry cooling duct, and an exit cooling duct connected to the reversing duct. The reversing duct is constructed to conduct the exhaust-gas flow in opposite direction to a direction of flow in the entry cooling duct and the exit cooling duct. A control element is received in the housing for selectively directing an exhaust-gas flow through the bypass duct or through the cooling zone, with the bypass duct being segregated from a deflection zone of the reversing duct.