In a method for operating a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, wherein fuel is metered into the cylinders by direct fuel injection into the combustion chambers and by the addition of fuel in an intake region of the engine and a control unit matches the quantity of fuel to be added in the intake region and the quantity of fuel to be injected directly into the combustion chamber to one another as a function of the operating point of the internal combustion engine so as to provide an ignitable fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, the control unit determines a recirculation rate for the re-circulated exhaust gas and adjusts a predetermined excess air ratio (λ) for the mixture composed of fresh air, re-circulated exhaust gas and fuel by means of the direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber taking into account the recirculation rate in order to reduce the exhaust emissions of the internal combustion engine and improve fuel consumption.