An internal combustion engine (1) has a control arrangement (18) which regulates at least one control parameter for operating the engine (1). The control arrangement (18) includes a non-volatile memory (20) and a main memory (21). During operation of the engine (1), an operating value (xOperating) for the control parameter is continually stored in the non-volatile memory (20). When starting the engine (1), an initial value for the control parameter is determined. According to at least one criterion, a determination is made as to whether the operating value (xOperating) stored in the non-volatile memory (20) or a standard value (xStandard) is used as the initial value for the control parameter.