An apparatus comprising a power amplifier and a control circuit. The power amplifier may be configured to generate an output signal in response to an input signal and a control signal. The control circuit may be configured to present (i) a bias signal as the control signal during un-regulated conditions and (ii) a power down voltage as the control signal when one or more predetermined design parameters are exceeded. The magnitude of the control signal may be configured to dynamically adjust a power level of the output signal. The power down voltage may be generated by sampling the input signal.