A control device for an engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism. The control device performs learning a holding control amount of a hydraulic valve when actual valve timing is held at a fixed timing in each of spring and non-spring regions, and an updating. The updating includes updating the control amount for the non-spring region whenever the control amount for the spring region learned drops below the control amount for the non-spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the non-spring region being less than or equal to the control amount for the spring region, and/or updating the control amount for the spring region whenever the control amount for the non-spring region learned exceeds the control amount for the spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the spring region being greater than or equal to the control amount for the non-spring region.