A device for controlling a gas exchange valve for internal combustion engines, having a housing including an axially movable valve member, which on an end close to the combustion chamber, has a valve sealing face that cooperates with a valve seat affixed to the housing and on an end remote from the combustion chamber, has a piston that axially separates upper and lower hydraulic working chambers from each other. The lower working chamber closer to the combustion chamber acts on the valve member in the closing direction and the upper working chamber further from the combustion chamber acts on the valve member in the opening direction. The lower working chamber continuously communicates with a high pressure source and the upper working chamber can be alternatingly filled with high pressure by way of a high pressure supply line containing an electric control valve. The upper working chamber is discharged by way of a discharge line that contains an electric control valve. When the electric control valve is without current, the control valve closes the high pressure supply line connected with the upper working chamber and when the electric valve in the discharge line is without current, the discharge line is open.