The invention relates to a starting device (100) for a spark ignition engine (10) with direct fuel injection, in which, in a normal operation mode, the fuel is drawn from a fuel tank (21) by a fuel pump (22), which is mechanically driven by the engine, and is injected under pressure via a fuel injector (14) into a cylinder (11) of the spark ignition engine (10) which beforehand was filled with air drawn via an air inlet channel (19). The operation of said device is made more effective by the provision of first means (18) by means of which the fuel can be injected into the air inlet channel (19). In addition, the first means (18) are connected to the outlet of the fuel pump (22) via a branch duct (16). Second means (17) are also provided which are arranged in the branch duct (16) and which open and close the branch duct (16) according to the operational phase of the spark ignition engine (10).