A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinder banks which allow a simple diagnosis of a faulty deactivation of the gas exchange of at least one cylinder bank, or a simple determination of the ambient pressure. In the process, in addition to at least one first cylinder bank having activated gas exchange of at least one cylinder, a deactivation of the gas exchange of all cylinders of at least one second cylinder bank is initiated in at least one operating state of the internal combustion engine. The at least one second cylinder bank is assigned a separate intake tract. In the at least one operating state, a variable that is characteristic for the pressure in the intake tract of the at least one second cylinder bank is measured and evaluated for the presence of undesired pressure pulsations.