A control device for an internal combustion engine includes an intake-side variable valve timing mechanism and a controller. The intake-side variable valve timing mechanism is configured to continuously advance or retard a phase of a cam that actuates an intake valve. The controller is configured to actuate the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism toward a retardation side and position the intake-side variable valve timing mechanism at a prescribed position, and execute fail-safe control on the basis of a signal from a cam position sensor instead of a signal from the crank position sensor, when it is determined that there is a failure in a crank position sensor of the internal combustion engine.