A process for operating an internal combustion engine with a charging device such as a turbocharger and with an intake valve drive mechanism which is variable with respect to its intake valve control times and/or its intake valve stroke. Upon recognition of a positive charge requirement during the operation of the charging device, the at least one variable intake valve drive mechanism is driven in such a manner that an available stroke reserve and/or intake closure control time reserve is utilized to increase the charge amount introduced into an engine cylinder.