The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method for controlling the load of a PA, to improve PA efficiency in linear transmitters with isolator elimination (IE) circuitry, that does not require the use of high frequency RF circuitry. The present invention provides a PA load controller (130, 131) that improves the efficiency of a PA (116) by adjusting the PA load using an AGC signal (134), a level set adjustment signal (132), and a signal strength indicator (135), these three signals are readily obtained from continuous gain and phase adjustment circuitry (e.g., 102). The load controller determines a phase of the PA load that minimizes the AGC signal and a phase of the PA load that maximizes the level set adjustment signal. From these determinations, the PA load controller determines a phase of the PA load that improves the efficiency of the PA and adjusts the PA load phase accordingly.