The present disclosure relates to a refrigeration circuit that includes a controller communicatively coupled to a compressor, an expansion valve, and a sensor of the refrigeration circuit. The controller may activate the compressor and actuate the expansion valve such that the compressor is active while the expansion valve is closed. The controller may also measure a pressure of a refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit using the sensor while the compressor is active and the expansion valve is closed. Additionally, the controller may determine whether a refrigerant leak exists based on a maximum measurement time being reached or a time difference between a first time associated with the compressor being active while the expansion valve is closed and a second time associated with the measured pressure falling below a threshold value.