Circuits and methods that can rapidly detect voltage degradation in a positive charge pump output and discharge control node accumulated charge (CNAC), thereby forcing the positive charge pump into a high-power mode. Embodiments include circuitry configured to provide a load current to a positive charge pump, including a low-dropout regulator (LDO) having a pass device that includes a control input, and a rapid charge transfer circuit coupled to the control input of the pass device and configured to be coupled to a source of a trigger voltage, the rapid charge transfer circuit configured to transfer a charge to or from the control input of the pass device when the trigger voltage falls sufficiently below a specified level so as to rapidly place the pass device in a higher conduction state, and to automatically cease to provide the transfer the charge after a settable amount of time.