Consistent with an example embodiment, a circuit comprises a power factor correction stage having a DC input, a ground input, a DC output and a ground output. The circuit further includes a capacitor; a diode; and a discharge circuit. A first terminal of the diode is connected to an input of the power factor correction stage, a second terminal of the diode is connected to the first plate of the capacitor; and the second plate of the capacitor is connected to the other input of the PFC stage. The discharge circuit is connected to the capacitor and is configured to discharge the capacitor such that it contributes to the output of the PFC stage when the level of a signal at the input of the PFC stage falls below a threshold value.