A controller for a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor includes a pulse width modulator and a control circuit. The pulse width modulator provides a plurality of phase control signals to control corresponding ones of a plurality of phases of the BLDC motor. The control circuit controls the pulse width modulator to provide pulses to the plurality of phases to control a speed of the BLDC motor by causing the pulse width modulator to adjust widths of the pulses when a measured current in an active one of a corresponding phase exceeds a threshold in a startup mode. In one form, the controller is part of a BLDC motor system which also includes a plurality of phase drivers each having inputs for receiving respective ones of said plurality of phase control signals, and outputs adapted to couple to corresponding phases of the BLDC motor.