Abstract: A method and an apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine, in particular a motor-vehicle diesel engine, with low nitrogen-oxide emissions, has a first mode of operation which sets an early start of fuel injection and a nitrogen-oxide reducing agent is added to the stream of exhaust gases upstream of a nitrogen-oxide-reducing exhaust-gas catalytic converter, and a second mode of operation which sets a late start of fuel injection. A temperature sensor measures the temperature of the exhaust-gas catalytic converter. The engine is operated in the second mode of operation when the measured temperature of the exhaust-gas catalytic converter lies outside a prescribable temperature range for an effective catalytic nitrogen-oxide reduction to ensure low nitrogen-oxide emissions.