In a control apparatus for a variable valve mechanism that varies a valve characteristic of an engine valve, in a saturated state in which a calculated manipulated variable of the variable valve mechanism exceeds an outputtable manipulated variable, convergence to a desired position is achieved while suppressing a response delay and an overshoot. If a feedforward manipulated variable calculated according to a reference response exceeds an outputtable limit manipulated variable, a saturating amount (feedforward manipulated variable—limit manipulated variable) is integrated. Upon completion of the integration, the feedforward manipulated variable is corrected based on an FF manipulated variable correction amount, and the integrated value of saturating amount is replaced by a value obtained by subtracting the FF manipulated variable correction amount each time a correction is made. When the integrated value of saturating amount reduces to a predetermined value or less, a control mode is switched to feedback control.