A starter control apparatus is provided which is used with a starter equipped with a pinion engageable with a ring gear coupled to an output shaft of an engine and a motor operable to rotate the pinion to crank the engine. The starter control apparatus works to determine whether the engine has been placed to continue to run by itself after cranked by the motor or not. When such a condition is encountered, the starter control apparatus releases the engagement of the pinion with the ring gear while keeping the pinion rotated by the motor, thereby decreasing the torque exerted by the ring gear on the pinion to minimize the wear of the pinion.