a gas bag module of a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a housing , a gas bag arranged therein , a gas generator for filling the gas bag with compressed gas , and a cover which in a closed position closes the housing and can be brought into an opened position after activation of the gas generator so that the gas bag can emerge from the housing . the cover is coupled to a support element which is spatially separate from the cover . the support element , after activation of the gas generator , is exposed to a force resulting from the compressed gas produced by the gas generator and biases the cover into the opened position .