Systems, and apparatus for adding reflection based pre-emphasis to a laser driver. In one aspect, a device includes a load (e.g. a laser) having a load impedance, a first end of a transmission line connected to the load, and a reflective impedance element connected to a second end of the transmission line. The reflective impedance element has a given impedance value that differs from the transmission line's characteristic impedance, and the characteristic impedance differs from the load impedance. This mismatch causes reflections between the reflective impedance element and the load. The reflections between the reflective impedance element and the load combine with an incident signal at the load to create a target signal having a target spectral shape.