A method and apparatus for protecting an electrical device using a non-volatile memory cell, such as an STRAM or RRAM memory cell. In some embodiments, a memory element is connected in parallel with a sensor element, where the memory element is configured to be repetitively reprogrammable between a high resistance state and a low resistance state. The memory element is programmed to the low resistance state when the sensor element is in a non-operational state and reprogrammed to the high resistance state when the sensor element is in an operational state.