Hydraulic system for an internal combustion engine

A hydraulic system for an internal combustion engine with at least one hydraulically actuated coupling element comprising a slide coupling in a switchable valve drive element, the valve drive element including at least two parts that move with respect to one another to attain different cam strokes, wherein on at least one side of the coupling element a path extends in or on the valve drive element to feed switching hydraulic fluid pressure, the valve drive element moving within a bore hole in the internal combustion engine into which a first channel opens to feed the switching hydraulic fluid pressure, one end of the channel being supplied by a hydraulic fluid pump followed by a directional valve to turn on and turn off the switching pressure, and an other end of the channel being hydraulically connected to the path, wherein the path is provided with a connection to a second hydraulic fluid channel at least near the coupling element, the second channel feeding high-pressure hydraulic fluid at least when the switching pressure is shut off in the first channel, the hydraulic fluid pressure in the second channel being less than a necessary switching pressure.