A method and a device for determining the angular position of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, especially when shutting down the internal combustion engine, using an angle sensor, the passing by being recorded of incremental angle marks on a signal-generating wheel that is connected to the crankshaft in a rotatably fixed manner, and being transmitted in the form of signals to an engine control unit. The signals include data on the direction of rotation of the crankshaft, and the direction of rotation data is evaluated in the engine control unit.