A hybrid power control system (102) that selectively applies voltage-based gain control and current-based gain control and method (300) of controlling a power amplifier (104) gain are presented. A voltage-based gain control signal (120) is applied to control the gain of the power amplifier when a level output power is indicated by a power contour signal (132). Whether the power amplifier is saturated is identified. A current-based gain control signal (122) is applied to control the gain of the power amplifier when the power amplifier is saturated and a decrease in output power is indicated by the power contour signal.