The invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1) having a settable variable compression ratio and having a connecting rod (3), which connecting rod has an adjustment mechanism (4) for the adjustment of the settable variable compression ratio, a first hydraulic line (5), a second hydraulic line (6), a hydraulic outflow duct (47) and a switching module (21) for the switching of the adjustment mechanism (4), wherein the switching module (21) is arranged on the connecting rod (3) and a first position of the switching module (21) corresponds to a first compression ratio and a second position of the switching module (21) corresponds to a second compression ratio that differs from the first compression ratio, wherein the switching module (21) has a switching element (22) and a sleeve (23) surrounding the switching element (22), wherein the switching element (22) and the sleeve (23) are movable relative to one another, and the switching element (22) has a recess (36) and an edge region (37) bordering the recess (36), wherein, in the first position of the switching module (21), the recess (36) and the sleeve (23) connect the first hydraulic line (5) in fluid-conducting fashion to the hydraulic outflow duct (47), and the edge region (37) and the sleeve (23) shut off a fluidic connection between the second hydraulic line (6) and the hydraulic outflow duct (47), and in the second position of the switching module (21), the recess (36) and the sleeve (23) connect the second hydraulic line (6) in fluid-conducting fashion to the hydraulic outflow duct (47), and the edge region (37) and the sleeve (23) shut off a fluidic connection between the first hydraulic line (5) and the hydraulic outflow duct (47).