Abstract: In the engine braking operation of supercharged internal combustion engines, the braking power is generated by backing-up the exhaust gas before it enters an exhaust gas turbine of an exhaust gas turbocharger from an actuator in the exhaust gas duct. In order to make it possible to control the braking power within the operating limits of the exhaust gas turbocharger, the actual value and a maximum value of the turbine inlet pressure within the operating limits of the exhaust gas turbo supercharger are inferred from a performance graph of the internal combustion engine, which performance graph includes an electronically stored compressor performance graph of the supercharged air compressor which represents the relationship between mass throughput and total pressure ratio of the compressor and in which a plurality of engine operating lines for certain actuator positions and certain engine speeds as well as for a constant turbine inlet pressure are recorded.