In a device for activating a lace-up traction device for a shoe (1), comprising a slider (22) and a hingeably held tension lever (9) which can be pushed down when the shoe (1) is put on, said tension lever (9) in the pushed-down state being lockable to the slider (22) and being unlockable by pushing the slider (22) forward; said slider (22) comprising a guide (37) for a rocker (39), which rocker (39) elsewhere is guided in a further longitudinal guide (26) and which rocker (39) is pre-tensioned in the direction of hingeing forward and upward by means of a spring arrangement (7), a simple and clear design as well as good functional safety are achieved in that the guide (37) comprises two branches (37a, 37b) arranged at an angle in relation to each other; in that the slider (22) comprises a stopping face (28), and the rocker (39) comprises an associated engagement element (41) by means of which the slider (22) can be moved to the rear, into the rear snap-in position; and in that the slider (22) comprises a guide means (30), while the rocker (39) comprises an associated engagement element (41) by means of which the engagement element (41) of the rocker (39), which engagement element engages the guide (37), can be made to move to a position which is suitable for moving into the front branch (37a) of the guide (37).