Abstract: In order to prevent engine misfires and irregular engine performance when an engine is accelerated from very low speeds, for example starting speeds, due to the engagement of an automatic spark advance feature, the apparatus of the invention provides that the automatic spark advance for low and decreasing engine speeds is operative only when the engine is decelerated from higher engine speeds through an upper threshold level but remains inoperative when the engine is accelerated from low speeds through a lower threshold level. The apparatus includes a number of timing members which define a hysteresis characteristc which shifts the occurrence of an ignition control signal only when the upper speed level is crossed from above. A number of embodiments is presented.