An apparatus for actuating at least one outlet valve of a valve-controlled internal combustion engine for motor vehicles, includes an actuating element which is driven by a camshaft. A first piston/cylinder unit, preferably a hydraulically loaded piston/cylinder unit, is provided between a cam of the camshaft and at least one outlet valve. The piston/cylinder unit allows at least one outlet valve to be held in a non-closed intermediate position during an engine braking mode with exhaust-gas backpressure. A second piston/cylinder unit is provided which is configured as a valve-play compensation element, preferably as a hydraulic valve-play compensation element (HVC). At least one valve train-side device is provided between the cam and the at least one outlet valve, which valve train-side device exerts a force which is directed counter to the adjusting action of the HVC but is lower than the latter.