An improved circuit for controlling the output power level of a radio frequency (RF) amplifier is disclosed. The circuit samples the output of an RF amplifier. The sample is amplitude modulated at a preselected modulation frequency and is passed to a detector. In response to the amplitude modulated signal, the detector produces a signal whose amplitude is indicative of the RF amplifier's output power and whose frequency is the modulation frequency. The amplitude of the signal produced by the detector is then compared to a reference amplitude and the difference (error signal) is used to control the gain of the RF amplifier.