In a method for setting the rotary angle position of the camshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft, the crankshaft is connected to the camshaft by means of a triple-shaft gear mechanism. This triple-shaft gear mechanism has a drive shaft which is fixed to the crankshaft, an output shaft which is fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft which is driven by an electric motor. A crankshaft sensor signal is detected which changes its state when the rotary angle of the crankshaft changes. Furthermore, an adjusting shaft sensor signal is detected which changes its state when the rotary position of the adjusting shaft changes. A phase angle signal is updated, starting from a reference rotary angle value, when the state of the crankshaft sensor signal and/or of the adjusting shaft sensor signal changes, and is adjusted to a provided setpoint phase angle signal. The ignition of the internal combustion engine is then switched off and/or the rotational speed of the crankshaft is lowered to below a prespecified minimum rotational speed value. While the crankshaft and/or the camshaft are/is still rotating, the electric motor is supplied with power in such a way that the camshaft rotates in the direction of a prespecified reference position relative to the crankshaft. When the internal combustion engine is next started, the camshaft and crankshaft are positioned in accordance with the reference position and this is detected with the aid of a sensor. The phase angle signal is set to a reference value and then adjusted to the setpoint phase angle signal.