A method for adjusting the rotational angle position of the camshaft (3) of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine relative to the crankshaft (5) is provided. The crankshaft (5) is drivingly connected to the camshaft (3) via an adjusting drive (1), which is embodied as a triple-shaft gear mechanism, having a crankshaft-fixed drive shaft, a camshaft-fixed output shaft, and an adjustment shaft drivingly connected to an electric motor (4). A stop element is connected to the drive shaft and a counter-stop element is connected to the camshaft (3). The crankshaft rotational angle measuring signal and a position signal for the rotational angle of the adjusting shaft are detected during the starting step of the internal combustion engine. A phase angle signal for the position of the rotational angle of the camshaft (3), based on the initial position, in relation to the camshaft (3) is determined with the aid of the angle measuring signal, the position measuring signal and a gear variable of the triple shaft gear. After immobilization of the crankshaft (5) and the camshaft (3) in a reference position in relation to each other and after detection of the reference position, the phase angle in relation to the reference position is measured and is controlled to a target value signal.