A bleeder circuit controller (11) configured to control a bipolar junction transistor (10) having a collector (12) configured to be connected to an output of a phase cut dimmer (2) for receiving a bleed current, an emitter (13) for connecting to ground and a base (14), the bleeder circuit controller configured to generate a control signal for controlling the bleed current through the bipolar junction transistor (10) and measure a signal indicative of the current flow through the dimmer (2) and apply a current limit to a base-emitter current flow as a function of the measured signal.