The invention relates to a radial compressor for a turbocharger (5), in particular for an internal combustion engine, with a compressor wheel (4) for conveying and compressing a gas, which has an axial intake end (7) and a radial exhaust end (8), with a compressor wheel space (3), in which the compressor wheel (4) is arranged and which extends from the intake end (7) to the exhaust end (8), with an inlet port (10) leading to the intake end (7) of the compressor wheel (4), with at least one recirculation path (12) which opens at one end into the inlet port (10) and at the other end into the compressor wheel space (3). To increase the efficiency of the compressor (1) and/or the charger (5) equipped with the compressor, a control device (15) is provided for varying the flow-through cross section, namely at least opening and closing the flow-through cross section, of the at least one recirculation path (12).