A control device for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a fresh air flow detector configured to detect a fresh air flow (m A) inhaled into the internal combustion engine; an exhaust gas recirculation mechanism configured to recirculate exhaust gas to an intake air system of the internal combustion engine; a desired total intake air flow setting unit configured to set a desired total intake air flow (m T1, m T2) into the internal combustion engine; an intake air flow controller configured to control a total intake air flow (m T) into the internal combustion engine to make the total intake air flow (m T) into the internal combustion engine equal to the desired total intake air flow (m T1, m T2) set by the desired total intake air flow setting unit; characterized in that the control device further comprises: an exhaust gas recirculation stop unit configured to stop the operation of the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism when an idling operation of the internal combustion engine continues for a predefined time, wherein the desired total intake air flow setting unit is configured to set a sum (m T2 = m A + m A) of the fresh air flow (m A) detected by the fresh air flow detector when the internal combustion engine is in the idling operation state and the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism is in operation arid a flow (m A = α·λ 0 m F) of fresh-air-equivalent air in the exhaust gas recirculated by the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism when the internal combustion engine is in the idling operation state and the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism is in operation as the desired total intake air flow (m T2) when the exhaust gas recirculation stop unit has stopped the operation of the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism, thus reducing the desired total intake air flow (m T2) after the stop of operation of the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism as compared to the desired total intake air flow (m T1) before the stop of operation of the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism. a fresh air flow detector configured to detect a fresh air flow (m A) inhaled into the internal combustion engine; an exhaust gas recirculation mechanism configured to recirculate exhaust gas to an intake air system of the internal combustion engine; a desired total intake air flow setting unit configured to set a desired total intake air flow (m T1, m T2) into the internal combustion engine; an intake air flow controller configured to control a total intake air flow (m T) into the internal combustion engine to make the total intake air flow (m T) into the internal combustion engine equal to the desired total intake air flow (m T1, m T2) set by the desired total intake air flow setting unit; an exhaust gas recirculation stop unit configured to stop the operation of the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism when an idling operation of the internal combustion engine continues for a predefined time, wherein the desired total intake air flow setting unit is configured to set a sum (m T2 = m A + m A) of the fresh air flow (m A) detected by the fresh air flow detector when the internal combustion engine is in the idling operation state and the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism is in operation arid a flow (m A = α·λ 0 m F) of fresh-air-equivalent air in the exhaust gas recirculated by the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism when the internal combustion engine is in the idling operation state and the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism is in operation as the desired total intake air flow (m T2) when the exhaust gas recirculation stop unit has stopped the operation of the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism, thus reducing the desired total intake air flow (m T2) after the stop of operation of the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism as compared to the desired total intake air flow (m T1) before the stop of operation of the exhaust gas recirculation mechanism.