Method and apparatus for operating a drive unit

The invention relates to a method for operating a drive unit (2), in particular an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: - providing a target power specified (trqDesEng) for driving the drive unit (2) with a target power; - providing an indication of the operating point-dependent power sectors for the deployed target power specified (trqDesEng) in which stationary operation of the drive unit (2) is allowed, whereby a stationary non-allowable power range is defined between the operating point-dependent power sectors; - when a change to the target power specified in a transition mode (trqDesEng) for the drive unit (2) requires a crossing of the stationary non-allowable horsepower range, controlling the drive unit (2) based on an indication of a guided target power (trqDesEngLtd), where the led target power specified ( trqDesEngLtd) (by guiding the target power specified trqDesEng) is determined so that the maximum period during which the drive unit (2) (for providing the guided target power trqDesEngLtd) is controlled within the stationary non-allowable horsepower range, is limited to a predetermined maximum duration ,