A process for controlling knocking of an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of retarding an ignition angle when a cylinder knocks, resetting the ignition angle by adjusting in the direction of "advance", storing prevailing ignition angle retardation values in an adaptation characteristic diagram which, depending on a size of operating parameters of the internal combustion engine, has subdivided ranges, with one value of an ignition angle retardation determined during operation in an appropriate range and particularly on leaving this range, always being stored, setting the value of the ignition angle retardation as stored for a particular range on changing into this range, and on changing the range, resetting the ignition angle with increased advance adjustment speed until knocking occurs in this range or until a predetermined value of the ignition angle is reached.