A fuel injection apparatus for internal combustion engines in which beyond a predetermined remaining stroke during the supply stroke of the pump piston, a relief conduit is opened via a control edge. The same control edge closes the relief conduit once again during the intake stroke. During the subsequent effective intake stroke, the quantity of fuel to be injected upon the following compression stroke is metered by means of the electrically actuatable valve. The magnetic valve here is already opened before the closure of the relief conduit by the control edge, so that in the opening phase of the relief conduit, the pump work chamber of the fuel injection apparatus is flushed. In this manner, precise metering of the quantity of fuel to be injected is attained.