A controller and a method for a hybrid drive, which includes an internal combustion engine and an electrical machine are provided. The internal combustion engine includes adjustment devices that deactivate the intake and exhaust valve opening actuation. The controller is designed in such a way that, in the case of at least one specified condition (such as regeneration during unfired overrun or in the case of electric travel, in particular in the case of operation with high activation frequency of the internal combustion engine, e.g., in charge sustaining or HEV operation), the intake and exhaust valves are kept at least approximately (preferably completely) closed at least approximately simultaneously while the internal combustion engine is unfired. The internal combustion engine must be connected to the electrical machine. If there is a disconnect clutch, the disconnect clutch is brought into the closed state or remains closed.