A phase-locked loop circuit includes one loop for regulating phase of a VCO with respect to a reference source. In another loop, VCO frequency is compared to frequency of a crystal oscillator. Digital counters divide the frequency of the crystal oscillator and VCO to a common reference frequency. Once the frequency loop is locked, the counter at the output of the crystal oscillator is bypassed. The counter is bypassed by a flip-flop circuit clocked by the crystal oscillator and receiving a scaled input from the VCO. While the VCO frequency error is in the frequency range of correction capability of the phase-locked loop, the output of the flip-flop will duplicate the output of the counter. Thus, the counter can be bypassed and shut off.