A system for controlling an idle speed of an internal combustion engine having an electrically heated catalytic converter which is heated up when current is supplied from an alternator driven by the engine. In the engine idle control, a basic value of a desired idle engine speed is determined with respect to the engine coolant temperature in the same manner as the prior art. However, an augmentative correction amount of the desired idle engine speed is determined with respect to the exhaust system ambient temperature. More specifically, the desired idle engine speed is increased in response to the heating of the catalytic converter so as to prevent the alternator from generating electric power insufficient for heating up the catalytic converter.