The invention relates to an inlet device (1), for an internal combustion engine, comprising an inlet plenum (2), with at least one air inlet opening (3) and several outlet openings (4-7), connected by means of a provided mixing duct (8-11), in which a throttle valve (DR1-DR4) is respectively arranged, to a given cylinder (Z1-Z4) of the internal combustion engine. A distribution element (12) is also provided, permitting an air supply to the cylinder (Z1-Z4) during idle, by by-passing the throttle valves (DR1-DR4). The distributor element (12) comprises the following: a piston (26), arranged to be displaced within a cylinder (28) in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder, an air inlet, by means of which the cylinder (28) of the distribution element (12) has a flow connection to the inlet plenum, several air outlets (19, 29-32), provided on the surface of the cylinder, the instantaneous flow cross-section of which is dependent on the instantaneous position of the cylinder (26) and which are each connected by means of a line (13-16) to one of the mixing channels (8, 11) in the region between the relevant throttle valve (DR1-DR4) and cylinder (Z1-Z4). The invention is characterized in that the width of each of the air outlets changes in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder as measured in the circumferential direction of the cylinder.