An internal combustion engine has first and second non-deactivatable cylinder banks. Each cylinder bank is assigned exhaust lines which extend from exhaust manifolds. First and second exhaust-gas turbocharger in the exhaust line are assigned to the first and second cylinders, respectively. A first catalytic converter in the first exhaust line contains the first exhaust-gas turbocharger, and is arranged downstream of the first exhaust-gas turbocharger as viewed in the flow direction of the exhaust gas of the first cylinder bank. A second catalytic converter in the second exhaust line contains the second exhaust-gas turbocharger, and is arranged downstream of the second exhaust-gas turbocharger as viewed in the flow direction of the exhaust gas of the second cylinder bank. A flow transfer line is arranged between the first and the second exhaust line, and a first control element, by an exhaust-gas mass flow passing through the flow transfer line can be regulated.