Embodiments described herein are directed to determining an ambient temperature of an environment in which a device is operating. In some embodiments, the ambient temperature of the environment is determined by determining an initial temperature of the device and also determining when the temperature of the device reaches a first temperature threshold. When the temperature of the device reaches the first temperature threshold, the device is allowed to cool for a predetermined amount of time. Upon expiration of the amount of time, a change in temperature of the device over the amount of time is detected. The detected change in temperature is then used to determine an ambient temperature of the environment in which the device is operating.