Abstract: A switching power converter circuit and methods are presented. The circuit has a power stage with switching elements, a feedback loop for generating an error voltage, a modulator circuit for controlling switching operation of the power stage based on the error voltage, a prediction circuit, and a comparison circuit for comparing the prediction of the error voltage to an actual value of the error voltage and for instructing the modulator circuit to enter a pulse skipping mode based on a result of the comparison. Also, a switching power converter circuit that has a prediction circuit for generating a prediction of the drive signal for the power stage and a comparison circuit for comparing the prediction of the drive signal to the actual drive signal and for instructing the modulator circuit to enter a pulse skipping mode based on a result of the comparison.