Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine with a mass flow line

There are proposed a method and a device (15) for operating an internal combustion engine (1) having a mass flow line (5), making it possible to track the actual charge of the desired charge of the engine in a desired dynamics. the internal combustion engine (1) is supplied to a mass flow through the mass flow line (5). A desired value for a variable is determined that is characteristic of the mass flow to the internal combustion engine (1). The desired value of the characteristic for the mass flow size, starting from a balance of the effluent in the mass flow line (5) flowing from the mass flow and the mass flow line (5) mass flow formed according to a predetermined time course.