A driver circuit has a pad that may be utilized for programming a core circuit or receiving a data signal. A trace high circuit receives a pad voltage signal from the pad, and outputs a trace high voltage approximating a higher voltage of the pad voltage signal and the power supply voltage. A level shifter and a first inverter output a pull high control signal generated by inverting and level shifting a programming control signal. An ESD blocking circuit selectively blocks the pad voltage signal from reaching the core circuit depending on the pad voltage signal and the level-shifted programming control signal. A pull high circuit receives the pull high control signal and the power supply voltage, and outputs the power supply voltage to the core circuit when the pull high control signal is lower than the power supply voltage.