A method is provided for controlling a pre-spin operation of a compressor of an internal combustion engine provided with a turbocharger. The presence of a turbocharger imposes additional requirements on the method. The wear of a compressor clutch is proportional to the transferred energy when the clutch is engaged. In order to reduce the wear of the compressor clutch, or increase the maximum engine speed where it is allowed to engage the compressor, a compressor pre-spin operation is used to reduce the transferred energy when the clutch is engaged. The pre-spin is achieved by controlling the air mass flow over the compressor by controlling a bypass throttle angle of a bypass throttle. The bypass throttle is provided in a parallel conduit to the compressor, bypassing the compressor. Since the air mass flow over the compressor affects the air mass flow to the turbocharger, the method takes the turbocharger into consideration.