Method for operating a lean burn operable internal combustion engine

The operating process is for a lean-burn internal combustion engine (1) with a first cylinder group (2a) having a first exhaust gas line (3a) with an exhaust gas supercharger (7); and a second cylinder group (2b) with a second exhaust gas line (3b). During lean burn, the first exhaust gas line is closed off from the setting element (6).