A method for operating a speed-controlled internal combustion engine, including regulating the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, information concerning a torque to be set being provided as a manipulated variable, limiting the manipulated variable according to a torque limiting value in order to obtain a limited manipulated variable, activating the internal combustion engine as a function of the limited manipulated variable, and increasing the air volume fed to the internal combustion engine for achieving the torque to be set irrespective of the torque limiting value.