An internal combustion engine has a pressure sensor for a charging pressure, an air mass flow rate meter for an air mass flow and a charging device with which a bypass valve in a bypass pipe or an actuator for varying the geometry of a turbine are associated. A cascaded control device for controlling the internal combustion engine includes a first controller having a controlled variable that is the charging pressure and a manipulated variable which is the air mass flow, as well as a second controller having a controlled variable that is the air mass flow and a manipulated variable which is the degree of opening of the bypass valve.