A powertrain system includes a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, torque machines, and an output member in one of a plurality of transmission ranges. A method for operating the powertrain system includes, in response to a command to disable one of the torque machines, converging minimum and maximum torque capacities of the one of the torque machines to zero and converging minimum and maximum engine torque system constraints to a single engine torque command in response to the minimum and maximum torque capacity limits of the one of the torque machines and an output torque request. Torque output from the engine is controlled including employing a fast engine actuator to control the engine in response to the output torque request, and maintaining torque output from the one of the torque machines at zero.