A lidar system includes a light source configured to emit pulses of light, a scanner configured to direct the pulses of light along a scan direction, and a receiver with a detector configured to detect the pulses of light scattered by remote targets. For a pulse of light emitted by the light source, the receiver is configured to detect the scattered pulse of light returning to the receiver during a ranging time interval between (i) when the pulse of light leaves the lidar system and (ii) when the scattered pulse of light returns from a remote target positioned at a maximum distance RMAX. For at least a portion of the ranging time interval, the lidar system directs the scattered pulse of light toward the active region of the detector at an oblique angle to reduce an amount of light impinging on the active region.