An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, having: - a cylinder head, in particular a single-cylinder cylinder head or a multi-cylinder cylinder head; - a crankcase; - a cylinder head gasket, in particular a single-cylinder cylinder head gasket or a multi-cylinder cylinder head gasket, which is arranged between the cylinder head and the crankcase, wherein the cylinder head, the cylinder head gasket and the crankcase form a sealing region for sealing at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; - a first recess (28A; 28B; 28C), which is arranged within the sealing region and at a distance from the at least one combustion chamber, wherein the first recess (28A; 28B; 28C) is, in particular, a screw hole or a closed casting core hole; and - a first leakage gas passage (30A; 30B; 30C), which extends from the first recess (28A; 28B; 28C) to a first surface (32A; 32B; 32C) exposed to the environment of the internal combustion engine and/or to a ventilation passage of the internal combustion engine, wherein the first leakage gas passage (30A; 30B; 30C) is designed, in particular, as a depression; wherein: - the first recess is provided in a sealing surface (26; 36) of the cylinder head gasket and is a screw hole, and the first leakage gas passage is provided in a sealing surface (26, 36) of the cylinder head gasket; or - the first recess is provided in a sealing surface of the crankcase and is a screw hole or a closed casting core hole, and the first leakage gas passage is provided in a sealing surface of the crankcase and extends to the first surface exposed to the environment of the internal combustion engine; or - the first leakage gas passage (30A; 30B; 30C) is provided in a sealing surface of the cylinder head and extends from the first recess (28A; 28B; 28C) to the ventilation passage of the internal combustion engine. - a cylinder head, in particular a single-cylinder cylinder head or a multi-cylinder cylinder head; - a crankcase; - a cylinder head gasket, in particular a single-cylinder cylinder head gasket or a multi-cylinder cylinder head gasket, which is arranged between the cylinder head and the crankcase, wherein the cylinder head, the cylinder head gasket and the crankcase form a sealing region for sealing at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; - a first recess (28A; 28B; 28C), which is arranged within the sealing region and at a distance from the at least one combustion chamber, wherein the first recess (28A; 28B; 28C) is, in particular, a screw hole or a closed casting core hole; and - a first leakage gas passage (30A; 30B; 30C), which extends from the first recess (28A; 28B; 28C) to a first surface (32A; 32B; 32C) exposed to the environment of the internal combustion engine and/or to a ventilation passage of the internal combustion engine, wherein the first leakage gas passage (30A; 30B; 30C) is designed, in particular, as a depression; - the first recess is provided in a sealing surface (26; 36) of the cylinder head gasket and is a screw hole, and the first leakage gas passage is provided in a sealing surface (26, 36) of the cylinder head gasket; or - the first recess is provided in a sealing surface of the crankcase and is a screw hole or a closed casting core hole, and the first leakage gas passage is provided in a sealing surface of the crankcase and extends to the first surface exposed to the environment of the internal combustion engine; or - the first leakage gas passage (30A; 30B; 30C) is provided in a sealing surface of the cylinder head and extends from the first recess (28A; 28B; 28C) to the ventilation passage of the internal combustion engine.