Innovation management auditing (IMA) is valuable to assess innovation capability. A review of literature shows that research-based IMA-models are few and considerable variations in IMA-related research and models exist. Quality of different models is oftenunclear or limited. Purpose of this paper is to clarify the basis for valid and reliable auditing. Findings point to that there are different aims and purposes of IMA; measuring, learning about or changing innovation capability as well as improved business performance through capability enhancement. Different aims imply different focus and formulation of quality to be achieved through IMA-efforts. A quality framework for IMA is discussed and developed based on aims and the trustworthiness (validity, reliability and objectivity) in achieving respective aims. The framework is proposed as a way to assess quality of different models, as a guide to enhance quality through research, and for practitioners to use models and tools in a quality-conscious way.