A hydraulic valve control apparatus in an embodiment for multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a reservoir chamber, assigned to a pressure chamber of a valve tappet and having a reservoir piston that serves as a valve, with which the reservoir chamber can be separated from the pressure chamber. The reservoir piston is shifted out of its position of repose to a reservoir function by a hydraulic thrust that is conducted in the reservoir chamber under the control of a magnet valve, via a control line in which a check valve is disposed. Displacement of the reservoir piston occurs only whenever a valve actuation takes place via the drive cam and as a result the working pressure adequate for the displacement of the reservoir piston prevails in the pressure chamber.