Circuits and systems include a parallel resistor-capacitor (RC) network coupled between a pin and ground, and first and second transistors coupled in source follower configuration with a common gate coupling. The source of the first transistor is coupled to the pin. A first switch couples a drain of the first transistor to the common gate coupling during soft-start (SS) and decouples that connection during over current limit (OCL) sensing, and a second switch couples a drain of the second transistor to the common gate coupling during OCL sensing and decouples that connection during SS. A first current source is enabled deliver a constant current to the pin during SS. A second current source is enabled to generate a reference voltage at the source of the second transistor during OCL, which reference voltage is transferred to the pin by the source follower configuration. A comparator controls the switches to transition from SS to OCL sensing. The comparator output signal is based on a comparison of the voltage at the pin to a threshold voltage.