A control device for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an EGR path (58, 60, 62) that connects an exhaust path (40, 42, 44) and an intake path of the internal combustion engine; an EGR catalyst that is disposed in the EGR path (58, 60, 62) and capable of purifying exhaust gas; an EGR valve that opens and closes the EGR path (58, 60, 62); a main catalyst that is disposed in the exhaust path (40, 42, 44) and capable of purifying the exhaust gas; means for acquiring an exhaust gas air-fuel ratio prevailing upstream of the main catalyst (hereinafter referred to as the main catalyst upstream air-fuel ratio); and main-feedback control means for correcting the base fuel injection amount so that the main catalyst upstream air-fuel ratio agrees with a predetermined target air-fuel ratio; characterized in that the control device further comprises: means for acquiring an exhaust gas air-fuel ratio in the EGR path (58, 60, 62) (hereinafter referred to as the EGR path air-fuel ratio); EGR path air-fuel ratio judgment means for judging whether the EGR path air-fuel ratio is richer than a threshold value when EGR is stopped with the EGR valve closed; and target air-fuel ratio setup means for setting the predetermined target air-fuel ratio for the internal combustion engine to be leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the EGR path air-fuel ratio judgment means concludes that the EGR path air-fuel ratio is richer than the threshold value. an EGR path (58, 60, 62) that connects an exhaust path (40, 42, 44) and an intake path of the internal combustion engine; an EGR catalyst that is disposed in the EGR path (58, 60, 62) and capable of purifying exhaust gas; an EGR valve that opens and closes the EGR path (58, 60, 62); a main catalyst that is disposed in the exhaust path (40, 42, 44) and capable of purifying the exhaust gas; means for acquiring an exhaust gas air-fuel ratio prevailing upstream of the main catalyst (hereinafter referred to as the main catalyst upstream air-fuel ratio); and main-feedback control means for correcting the base fuel injection amount so that the main catalyst upstream air-fuel ratio agrees with a predetermined target air-fuel ratio; characterized in that the control device further comprises: means for acquiring an exhaust gas air-fuel ratio in the EGR path (58, 60, 62) (hereinafter referred to as the EGR path air-fuel ratio); EGR path air-fuel ratio judgment means for judging whether the EGR path air-fuel ratio is richer than a threshold value when EGR is stopped with the EGR valve closed; and target air-fuel ratio setup means for setting the predetermined target air-fuel ratio for the internal combustion engine to be leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the EGR path air-fuel ratio judgment means concludes that the EGR path air-fuel ratio is richer than the threshold value. means for acquiring an exhaust gas air-fuel ratio in the EGR path (58, 60, 62) (hereinafter referred to as the EGR path air-fuel ratio); EGR path air-fuel ratio judgment means for judging whether the EGR path air-fuel ratio is richer than a threshold value when EGR is stopped with the EGR valve closed; and target air-fuel ratio setup means for setting the predetermined target air-fuel ratio for the internal combustion engine to be leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the EGR path air-fuel ratio judgment means concludes that the EGR path air-fuel ratio is richer than the threshold value.