According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device for an internal combustion engine, in which an electric heating catalyst (EHC) having a catalyst support generating heat by energizing is provided to an exhaust passage. The control device includes a control unit configured to energize the support in the case where a rapid change in intake air flow is detected based on an intake air flow of the internal combustion engine or a correlation value of the intake air flow, so as to suppress any occurrence of a crack caused by an increase in difference in temperature between predetermined portions at the support during the rapid change in intake air flow.