Abstract: In a valve timing gear of an internal combustion engine having hydraulic valve clearance adjusting elements (21), each element (21) comprises a rotationally symmetrical housing (22), which is guided so that it is longitudinally displaceable in a seat in the engine and at one axial end of the element (21) is acted upon by a cam of a camshaft. The element (21) comprises a piston (24) which is axially displaceable in the housing (22) and is non-positively connected either directly or indirectly to an engine gas exchange valve. A control valve (31), which has a closing member (39) and a valve seat for this formed on the piston (24), is arranged axially between the housing (22) and the piston (24). A reverse-spring element is used as valve clearance adjusting element (21), that is to say an element the control valve (31) of which comprises a control valve spring (30), which is supported by one end on the piston (24) and by the other end on the closing member (39).