In one embodiment, a microprocessor is provided. The microprocessor includes a branch prediction unit. The branch prediction unit is configured to track the presence of branches in instruction data that is fetched from an instruction memory after a redirection at a target of a predicted taken branch. The branch prediction unit is selectively powered up from a powered-down state when the fetched instruction data includes a branch instruction and is maintained in the powered-down state when the fetched instruction data does not include an instruction branch in order to reduce power consumption of the microprocessor during instruction fetch operations.