A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine having exhaust-gas recirculation are provided, which make it possible to dispense with an ambient-pressure sensor. In this context, an intake-manifold pressure and an ambient pressure are modeled. The intake-manifold pressure is modeled as a function of the modeled ambient pressure. The intake-manifold pressure is also measured. The modeled intake-manifold pressure is compared to the measured intake-manifold pressure. The modeled ambient pressure is adapted as a function of the comparison result. The modeled ambient pressure is adapted only when the exhaust-gas recirculation is inactive.