A method for controlling a filling level of an exhaust gas component accumulator of a catalytic converter in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine where an actual filling level of the accumulator is determined with a first catalytic converter model. The method includes forming a lambda setpoint is formed, wherein a predetermined target fill level is converted into a base lambda setpoint via a second system model reverse of the first catalytic converter model, a deviation of the actual fill level from the predetermined target fill level is determined and processed to a lambda setpoint correction value via a fill level control unit, a sum of the base lambda setpoint value and the lambda setpoint value correction value is formed, and said sum is used to form a correction value, with which fuel metering to at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine is influenced.