Method for the operation of an internal combustion engine

A method of operating a 4-stroke internal combustion engine in a first operating mode (9) which is a compression ignition operating mode, in which an outlet valve of the internal combustion engine is closed at a comparatively early closing time point (7) with respect to a crank angle (α), and in a second operating mode (10) which is a spark ignition operating mode, in which the outlet valve is closed at a comparatively late closing time point (8) with respect to the crank angle (α), comprising the steps of:

• transferring, during the change of the operating mode from the spark ignition operating mode (10) to the compression ignition operating mode (9), the closing time point of the outlet valve in steps, distributed over a plurality of 4-stroke cycles (n), from the late closing time point (8) to the early closing time point (7).