A controller for driving a power switch incorporates a protection circuit to protect the power switch from fault conditions, such as over-voltage conditions or power surge events. The protection circuit includes a fault detection circuit and a protection gate drive circuit. The fault detection circuit is configured to monitor the voltage across the power switch and to generate a fault detection indicator signal and the protection gate drive circuit is configured to generate a gate drive signal to turn on the power switch in response to a detected fault condition. In particular, the protection gate drive circuit generates a gate drive signal that has a slow assertion transition and is clamped at a given gate voltage value. In this manner, the protection circuit implements active clamping of the gate terminal of the power switch and safe handling of the power switch during over-voltage events.