A system for automatically controlling the supercharging of an internal combustion engine by controlling a variable parameter signal, such as pressure, air quantity, or air mass which characterizes the status of the internal combustion engine supercharging operation. The system includes a closed-loop control system. To optimize supercharging performance the response characteristic of the control system is determined as a function of the rotational frequency of the internal combustion engine and an operating parameter signal which characterizes the dynamic output response of the internal combustion engine and of the supercharger. In the case of large system deviations, the operating parameter signal is derived from the actual measured value of the control variable. The control system raises the value of the operating parameter signal when the control system is deactivated to avoid making an incorrect determination of the value of the operating parameter signal when the control system is then immediately reactivated. When small system deviations occur, the control system operates based on the assumption that the engine and supercharger are operating at a steady-state condition. Under such conditions, the control system uses a stored value for the value of the operating parameter signal.