A method for biasing a tunable laser during burst-on and burst-off states through a common-cathode laser driving circuit includes delivering a bias current to an anode of a gain-section diode having a shared substrate with the laser, and receiving a burst mode signal indicative of a burst-on state or a burst-off state. When the burst mode signal is indicative of the burst-off state, the method includes sinking a sink current away from the anode of the gain-section diode. The sink current is less than the bias current delivered to the anode of the gain-section diode. When the burst mode signal transitions to be indicative of the burst-on state from the burst-off state, the method includes ceasing the sinking of the sink current away from the anode of the gain-section diode, and delivering an overshoot current to the anode of the gain-section diode to accelerate heating of the gain-section diode.