The present invention relates to a laser processing apparatus for plasma-induced ablation having a laser light source for generating a processing laser beam, a focussing means for focussing the processing laser beam and an optical detection device for detecting the plasma radiation generated during an ablation, in which case the laser processing apparatus comprises an evaluation and/or control unit, the optical detection device being designed in such a way that it can output to the evaluation and/or control unit a signal dependent on the intensity of the detected plasma radiation, and the laser processing apparatus is designed in such a way that it can automatically be switched from a processing mode into a quiescent mode and/or from the quiescent mode into the processing mode, in a manner dependent on said signal.