A method for operating an internal combustion engine using externally supplied ignition, having a manually operable transmission, in which a torque produced by the internal combustion engine is able to be influenced via at least one control variable. An impending shifting process of the manual transmission and/or another operating situation of the internal combustion engine, during which a temporary lowering of the torque produced by the internal combustion engine is required and/or desired, is detected, and, as a function of the detection, the torque is lowered by changing at least one control variable of a fuel path.