Abstract: A laser driver includes a reference circuit, which may be a bandgap reference, mounted in thermal contact with the laser. The reference produces a current component Iptat that is proportional to the absolute temperature. The modulation current is proportional to Iptat, which slowly with temperature, up to a certain junction temperature (e.g., 65 to 70 degrees C.). Above that temperature, the modulation current increases more rapidly by adding an additional current component Icomp. This provides for the required increase in modulation current to compensate for temperature variations in the laser output. This technique allows the laser to be operated without cooling (as by a thermoelectric cooler) in many applications. The laser driver may optionally include circuitry to provide a bias current, which may be controlled by a backface monitor or threshold detector.