A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a variable valve operating mechanism (66, 70) configured to make a valve overlap period, in which an intake valve open period and an exhaust valve open period overlap with each other variable; and overlap period control means configured to control the valve overlap period such that the overlap period coincides with a timing at which exhaust pulsation exhibits a trough, by using the variable valve operating mechanism (66, 70), wherein the overlap period control means is configured to differentiate the control of the valve overlap period between a case where an offset change occurs in which exhaust pulsation entirely changes in an increasing direction of exhaust pressure, and a case where an amplitude change occurs in which an amplitude of exhaust pulsation changes more greatly than a minimum value of pressure at a trough of exhaust pulsation; wherein the control apparatus further comprises accelerator depression detection means which detects a presence or absence of a depression of an accelerator pedal of a vehicle equipped with the internal combustion engine, wherein the overlap period control means is configured to execute the control of the valve overlap period when the depression of the accelerator pedal is detected; characterized in that the control apparatus further comprises pulsation-change mode discrimination means that is configured to discriminate whether a change of exhaust pulsation is the offset change or the amplitude change, and wherein the overlap period control means is configured to differentiate the control of the valve overlap period according to a discrimination result of the pulsation-change mode discrimination means. a variable valve operating mechanism (66, 70) configured to make a valve overlap period, in which an intake valve open period and an exhaust valve open period overlap with each other variable; and overlap period control means configured to control the valve overlap period such that the overlap period coincides with a timing at which exhaust pulsation exhibits a trough, by using the variable valve operating mechanism (66, 70), wherein the overlap period control means is configured to differentiate the control of the valve overlap period between a case where an offset change occurs in which exhaust pulsation entirely changes in an increasing direction of exhaust pressure, and a case where an amplitude change occurs in which an amplitude of exhaust pulsation changes more greatly than a minimum value of pressure at a trough of exhaust pulsation; wherein the control apparatus further comprises accelerator depression detection means which detects a presence or absence of a depression of an accelerator pedal of a vehicle equipped with the internal combustion engine, wherein the overlap period control means is configured to execute the control of the valve overlap period when the depression of the accelerator pedal is detected; the control apparatus further comprises pulsation-change mode discrimination means that is configured to discriminate whether a change of exhaust pulsation is the offset change or the amplitude change, and wherein the overlap period control means is configured to differentiate the control of the valve overlap period according to a discrimination result of the pulsation-change mode discrimination means.