Fuel injection system

A fuel injection system having a high-pressure accumulator, in which fuel may be stored at high pressure, at least one fuel injector via which the fuel located in the high-pressure accumulator may be injected into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine being connectable to the high-pressure accumulator. A high-pressure pump draws in fuel out of a leak fuel area, compresses it, and supplies it to the high-pressure accumulator, so that a high fuel pressure is built up therein during operation of the high-pressure pump. A return line having a regulating valve is implemented between the leak fuel area and the high-pressure accumulator, the regulating valve allowing a fuel flow from the leak fuel area into the high-pressure accumulator when the high-pressure pump is shut down.