A method for operating an internal combustion engine working according to the Otto principle, in which fuel, particularly gasoline, is injected directly into a combustion chamber and is inflamed by self-ignition. A characteristic quantity characterizing the stability of combustion of an air/fuel mixture located in the combustion chamber is ascertained, and, as a function of the characteristic quantity, a residual gas proportion in the cylinder associated with the combustion chamber is set, in particular minimized, the residual gas proportion being reduced, preferably iteratively, as long as the characteristic quantity does not fall below a specifiable stability boundary.