Operating an internal combustion engine (110) having at least two combustion chambers (1-6) and at least one exhaust-gas catalytic converter (130). In one example, a beginning of the load operation phase of the internal combustion engine (110) that adjoins a coasting phase is detected. A combustion chamber of the at least two combustion chambers (1-6) is determined as the first combustion chamber; and one of other the combustion chambers is selected as the purging combustion chamber. An exhaust gas of the purging combustion chamber is directed into the same exhaust-gas catalytic converter (130) as an exhaust gas of the first combustion chamber. A first fuel quantity is fed into the purging combustion chamber such that the first fuel quantity, prior to igniting the fuel in the purging combustion chamber, is discharged to be partially or fully non-combusted in the direction of the exhaust-gas catalytic convertor (130).