A method is described for operating a drive unit of a motor vehicle, a setpoint torque being determined for driving the drive unit as a function of a driver request torque and an idle speed regulator torque being included in the driver request torque for determining the setpoint torque, and a drivability filter being applied for torque smoothing. In order to maintain the quality of the speed regulation and simultaneously make the drivability of the vehicle comfortable, the drivability filter is applied before or after the inclusion of the idle speed regulator torque in the driver request torque as a function of the instantaneous driving situation of the motor vehicle.