A motor drive controller includes: a motor drive unit; and a lock energization control circuit configured to control the motor drive unit to cause a lock current for holding the rotor at a predetermined lock position to flow from the motor drive unit to the drive coils for lock energization duration before rotation of the motor is started. The lock energization control circuit includes: a first lock energization unit that controls the motor drive unit such that a magnitude of the lock current becomes a first predetermined value when first predetermined duration has elapsed after the lock energization duration is started; and a second lock energization unit that controls the motor drive unit such that the magnitude of the lock current becomes a second predetermined value smaller than the first predetermined value when the lock energization duration is terminated after the first predetermined duration has elapsed.