A method of compensating for channel power depletion induced by Raman amplification noise in a hybrid distributed Raman amplifier-Erbium doped fiber amplifier. In the method, an equivalent noise figure is determined for a virtual amplifier equivalent to the hybrid distributed Raman amplifier-Erbium doped fiber amplifier, and having an input power equal to the input power of the Erbium doped fiber amplifier when the distributed Raman amplifier is off and an output power equal to the Erbium doped fiber amplifier output power. A compensation power, dependent at least in part upon the equivalent noise figure, is determined. A control signal is provided for controlling the hybrid amplifier such that an optical signal amplified by the hybrid amplifier has a total output power equal to a predetermined nominal output power plus the compensation power.