A method for regulating knocking in an internal combustion engine, particularly of a motor vehicle, has the following steps: determining a knocking combustion for a calculated first base ignition angle in one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine originated from a previous operating condition; and setting a new, second base ignition angle taking into account the existing operating condition. A query concerning the relative sizes of a setpoint ignition angle for efficiency reduction and the first base ignition angle is provided for setting the second base ignition angle to allow for knocking regulation which is favorable to the operation. If the setpoint ignition angle is smaller than the base ignition angle, an ignition angle retardation is performed with an adjustment value that must be adjusted, and which is given by the sum of a previously determined, constant retardation value and an adjusted, variable retardation value.