The release of beryllium from poloidal limiter tiles was investigated by laser-induced fluorescence. The measured beryllium fluxes are in the range 1019-1020 m-2 s-1, depending on the proton flux and heat load onto the limiters. Evaluation of the data shows that besides physical sputtering by protons sublimation becomes important at elevated surface temperatures. The density of neutral metastables in front of the limiter was found to be two times higher than the ground-state density.