A high frequency ballast for a metal halide lamp comprises a controller, a switch, and an oscillator. The controller selectively enables and disables the oscillator via the switch to ignite the lamp. The ignition method includes enabling the oscillator such that the oscillator provides the lamp with a pulse train comprising a rapid series of short ignition pulses, cools for a period of time, and provides an addition pulse train to the lamp if necessary to ignite the lamp. When the lamp ignites, the ballast maintains enablement of the oscillator.