Aspects of the pattern-independent phase adjustment system includes a single output data XOR gate coupled to a differential input data signal and a bias voltage through a first variable resistor. A single output reference XOR gate may be coupled to a latched differential input signal and the bias voltage through a second variable resistor. At least one latch may be coupled to at least one differential input of the data and reference XOR gate. The single output of the data XOR gate may be a data output of a clock and data recovery circuit (CDR) and the single output of the reference XOR gate may be a reference output of the clock and CDR. No current may flow at the data output of the data XOR gate and the reference output of the reference XOR gate when there are no transitions occurring at an input of the phase detector.