An exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine capable of post injection is disclosed which provides control such that the injection timing in sub injection is set to a point earlier than the target injection timing when the sub injection is started, and the injection timing in the sub injection is then delayed to the target injection timing. This realizes the post injection under the optimum conditions and enables an efficient rise in the exhaust temperature while inhibiting deterioration of the drivability due to a rapid change in torque.