A control device for an internal combustion engine includes a controller. The controller controls the relative rotation phase of the exhaust camshaft in accordance with the relative rotation phase of the intake camshaft. When a request for locking the relative rotation phase of the intake camshaft at an intermediate phase is generated, the controller controls the relative rotation phase of the exhaust camshaft such that the relative rotation phase of the exhaust camshaft is changed to a phase corresponding to the intermediate phase independently from the relative rotation phase of the intake camshaft.