The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine including a fuel-injection unit and a laser ignition-unit. According to the invention, during a compression cycle of the internal combustion engine, fuel is injected into the combustion chamber by means of the fuel-injection unit in such a way that an ignitable, round, flat mixed region of fuel and air forms on a plunger and a predetermined period elapses between the end of the fuel injection and the start of ignition in order to form the round flat mixed region. Ignition then takes place within the flat round mixed region by means of the laser-ignition unit.