A variable venturi-type carburetor comprising a suction piston, a fuel passage, and a needle fixed onto the suction piston and extending through the fuel passage. An air bleed passage is connected to the fuel passage. During engine starting, before the engine begins to rotate by its own power, the vacuum chamber of the suction piston is open to the atmosphere and the air bleed passage is shut off. When the engine begins to rotate by its own power, the vacuum chamber of the suction piston is closed from the atmosphere. After this, the air bleed passage is gradually opened. Such control of the closing of the vacuum chamber and the opening of the air bleed passage prevents engine stall by preventing the fuel mixture from becoming excessively lean when the engine first begins to rotate on its own power and then prevents engine misfires by subsequently reducing the air-fuel ratio to a lean mixture.