The invention concerns a method and a device for determining an internal combustion engine phase. Said device comprises an intake zone, an exhaust zone, at least one camshaft which acts on the gas exchanging valves and whereof the phase can be adjusted relative to that of a crankshaft by means of a phase adjusting device, and at least one sensor whereof the measurement signal enables a specific phase to be determined. The phase adjusting device is controlled in accordance with phase adjustment of the camshaft until detection of a gas reflux from the exhaust zone to the intake zone. A correction value is determined based on the associated specific phase and on a specific allocated phase. In the next operating mode, the respectively specific phase is corrected based on the correction value.