In one form, an oscillator includes an oscillator core circuit and a dynamic gain control circuit. The oscillator core circuit is for connection to a frequency reference element and provides a first clock signal using a negative gain element having a gain determined by a gain control signal. The dynamic gain control circuit provides the gain control signal to set an absolute value of the gain to a first level during a startup state, and changes the gain control signal to reduce the absolute value of the gain to a second level lower than the first level after the first clock signal has reached a steady state.