Systems and methods may provide for a power management apparatus including a first path to be coupled to an output of a narrow voltage direct current (NVDC) charger and an input of a backlight voltage regulator (VR). The apparatus may also include a second path to be coupled to an input of the NVDC charger and the input of the backlight voltage regulator, wherein the second path is to bypass current around the NVDC charger and to the input of the backlight VR if a voltage supplied by a first power source to the NVDC charger exceeds a voltage of a second power source coupled to the output of the NVDC. In one example, the first path includes a first diode and the second path includes a second diode, wherein the first and second diodes form an OR configuration for the apparatus between the first and second paths.