A computer for generating correcting variables for operation of an internal combustion engine (10), which comprises exhaust gas valves (24) and comprises at least one component (17, 18, 20, 31), through which exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine (10) flows, wherein the device comprises a first characteristic map (36), that reads out, using operating parameters of the internal combustion engine (10), values of the temperature which occurs at the exhaust gas valves (24) during operation of the internal combustion engine (10), wherein the computer comprises a further characteristic map (50) that reads out, using input variables dependent on output variables of the first characteristic map (36), values of correcting variables, and the further characteristic map (50) is at least partially an inverted characteristic map (50) with respect to the first characteristic map (36), wherein the readable values of the correcting variables are predefined such that specified maximum values of the component temperature are not exceeded for the component (17, 18, 20, 31) through which the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine (10) flows, wherein on output variables of the first characteristic map (36) are the values of the temperature which occurs at the exhaust gas valves (24).