In an internal combustion engine control device, when the engine stops, a variable valve actuation device is controlled to change an operating mode of each of intake valves to a specific state where an all-cylinder valve closed period, during which the intake valves of all engine cylinders are all kept in their non-lifted states, occurs, and a crank position change mechanism is controlled to change a crankshaft-rotation stopped position to a crankangle included within the all-cylinder valve closed period. When restarting the engine, the variable valve actuation device is controlled to bring the operating mode of each of the intake valves closer to an engine-start desired lift characteristic suited to an engine condition, prior to cranking action.