Method and apparatus for monitoring a preset by an adjusting element mass flow

There are proposed a method and an apparatus for monitoring a by an actuating element (1) selected mass flow through a first mass flow line (5) of an internal combustion engine (10) which make it possible, at unintentionally open adjusting element (1) a mass flow through the control element and its to identify direction. A first value for a temperature at the actuating element (1) is measured. A second value for the temperature at the actuating element (1) is modeled as a function of several operating parameters of the internal combustion engine (10). In response to a difference between the first value and the second value, the direction of the mass flow is determined.