A control device for an internal combustion engine is configured to: execute a first decompression operating processing such that a decompression operating state is selected in a first engine speed region that passes in the course of engine stop; execute a decompression stop processing such that a switching from the decompression operating state to a decompression stop state is performed in the course of the engine stop after passage of the first engine speed region; when a temperature correlation value is greater than or equal to a threshold value upon an engine start-up request, execute a second decompression operating processing such that the decompression operating state is selected in a second engine speed region that passes in the course of engine start-up before the start of fuel injection. When the temperature correlation value is smaller than the threshold value, the second decompression operating processing is not executed.