Abstract: In a method for braking a four-stroke internal combustion engine having cylinders each having a combustion chamber and at least one outlet valve connected to an outlet system and controlled by an engine camshaft, wherein the outlet system comprises a choke device, the flow of exhaust gas in the outlet system is choked with the choke device such that the exhaust gas upstream of the choke device is subjected to a pressure increase. The outlet valve is opened intermediately with the pressure increase in the exhaust gas such that the exhaust gas flows back into the combustion chamber. The outlet valve is positively maintained in a part-open position with a control device, operating independently of the engine camshaft and incorporated into an outlet valve actuating mechanism, during a subsequent compression stroke of the engine for a period of time ending at the latest when the engine camshaft acts on the outlet valve in order to fully open the outlet valve.