Particular embodiments of the present disclosure relate systems and methods for evaluating visible light sources. According to one embodiment, a method of evaluating a visible light source including a semiconductor laser having a gain section, a wavelength selective section, and a phase section includes applying a gain drive signal to the gain section of the semiconductor laser at a gain modulation frequency, and applying a triangular wave drive signal to the wavelength selective section of the semiconductor laser at a wavelength selective modulation frequency that is greater than the gain modulation frequency. The light source emits a plurality of optical output pulses. Output power values of the optical output pulses at a selected wavelength are detected. The output power value of one or more selected output pulses is compared with an output power threshold value to generate an indication of whether the visible light source satisfies an output power specification.