A method for operating an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle including receiving measurement signals of a cylinder pressure sensor and determining cylinder pressure fluctuations as a function of the received measurement signals of the cylinder pressure sensor. The method also includes increasing an exhaust gas recirculation rate of the internal combustion engine as a function of the determined cylinder pressure fluctuations until a predefined limiting value of the cylinder pressure fluctuations is reached. In addition, the method includes determining an actual value of the exhaust gas recirculation rate if the predefined limiting value of the cylinder pressure fluctuations is reached, and storing the determined actual value as a setpoint value for the exhaust gas recirculation rate of the internal combustion engine.