To operate a steplessly adjustable camshaft control device, particularly
reliably and safely, an adaptation of the camshaft and the crankshaft is
performed so that a phase angle (actual value) of the camshaft to the
crankshaft is determined, the phase angle is monitored while operating
the internal combustion engine and the camshaft control device is
controlled as a function of a variable setpoint value so that the phase
angle is equivalent to the setpoint value.