A method for controlling an engine is disclosed. The method may include receiving a pressure data set of a combustion event. The pressure data set may correspond to a temporal development of a cylinder pressure during the combustion event in a cylinder. The method may also include determining using a controller that the received pressure data set indicates an actual ignition timing within a preset ignition timing window. Further, the method may include deriving an actual combustion duration (D1) of the combustion event from the received pressure data set. The method may also include determining whether the actual combustion duration (D1) is shorter than a preset combustion duration for the cylinder. In addition, the method may include providing a control signal to control an operation of the internal combustion engine when the actual combustion duration is shorter than the preset combustion duration.