A physical layer integrated circuit (PHY), including an accessory charger adapter (ACA) bridge circuit to communicate with an ACA via a universal serial bus (USB) cable having at least an ID pin and a VBUS pin. The PHY is also to communicate with an ACA-agnostic USB controller configured to act as an A-device or as a B-device. The ACA comprises a USB accessory port. The ACA bridge circuit comprises detection and control logic configured to detect, based on a resistance sensed on the ID pin, that a B-device is connected to the USB accessory port of the ACA and, as a result of such a detection, generate a signal to the USB controller that causes the USB controller to act as an A-device and ignore a VBUS drive signal from the USB controller that, if not ignored, would cause the PHY to drive the VBUS pin. The detection and control logic is also configured to detect, based on a resistance sensed on the ID pin, that an off/idle A-device or nothing is connected to the USB accessory port of the ACA and, as a result of such a detection, modify a signal to the USB controller that prevents the USB controller from being aware of a voltage on the VBUS pin.