Abstract: A method for operating a piston-type internal-combustion engine having electromagnetic valve trains for actuating the cylinder valves, which respectively have an armature that can move back and forth between two electromagnets, counter to the force of restoring springs, with the valves being completely variably actuated by an electronic engine timing control unit. The functioning of the electromagnetic valve trains of each cylinder is detected in the engine timing control unit during operation, and when a functional failure of an electromagnetic valve train is detected at a cylinder, the electromagnet of the failed electromagnetic valve train is acted upon with a capturing current, which brings the armature into an end position at an electromagnet, and from this end position, the electromagnetic valve train is actuated for the ongoing work cycle of the cylinder.