A pulsed laser diode driver includes an inductor having a first terminal configured to receive a source voltage. A source capacitor has a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the inductor to provide the source voltage. A bypass switch has a drain node connected to a second terminal of the inductor and to a first terminal of a bypass capacitor. A laser diode has an anode connected to the second terminal of the inductor and to the drain node of the bypass switch. A laser diode switch has a drain node connected to a cathode of the laser diode. The laser diode switch and the bypass switch control a current flow through the inductor to produce a high-current pulse through the laser diode, the high-current pulse corresponding to a peak current of a resonant waveform developed at the anode of the laser diode.