PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drive control device for a work machine capable of avoiding unintentional operation of a drive actuator when abnormality occurs in a control solenoid proportional valve, while actualizing operation restriction necessary for keeping the work machine stable in such a configuration as to maintaining conventional operationality, thus enhancing the operationality and stability.SOLUTION: The drive control device includes stabilization control computing part 60a for computing and outputting a gentle stop command and an operation speed restriction command, a stop characteristic change part 210 including a speed increase device for correcting a pilot pressure to gently stop the drive actuator during the stop operation of an operation lever, an operation speed restriction part 240 including a speed reduction device for correcting the pilot pressure to restrict the operation speed of the drive actuator, and a speed increase cut-off device 330 for cutting off the supply of pilot pressure oil to the speed increase device when a failure of the speed increase solenoid proportional valve of the speed increase device is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4B