A fuel vapor recovery method and system are disclosed for an engine with a hybrid valvetrain, in which the intake valves are actuated by more than one type of device. Normal fuel vapor recovery purging relies on a depression in intake manifold pressure to cause the flow of purge gases through the fuel vapor recovery system and into the intake manifold. As the hybrid valvetrain engine is unthrottled over much of the engine operating map, purging the fuel vapor recovery system requires decreasing the intake manifold pressure to allow a purge condition. Making a transition to a condition with a depressed manifold pressure is the subject herein.