In a method for starting an internal combustion engine (60) having multiple combustion chambers (62, 64, 66, 68), wherein said internal combustion engine (60) has a starting system (50) and is operated using a start-stop function, and wherein said starting system (50) is actuated after a stop phase in operation of said internal combustion engine (60) to restart said internal combustion engine (60), a combustion chamber (62, 64, 66, 68) to be ignited first of the multiple combustion chambers (62, 64, 66, 68) is determined upon a restart of the internal combustion engine (60), and after a first ignition of the combustion chamber (62, 64, 66, 68) to be ignited first, speed data for the internal combustion engine (60) are detected, and a starter release of the starting system (50) is caused if the detected speed data meet a predetermined starter release criterion.