Methods, systems and devices that include a dynamic clock and voltage scaling (DCVS) solution configured to compute and enforce performance guarantees to ensure that a processor does not remain in a busy state (e.g., due to transient workloads) for more than a predetermined amount of time above that which is required for that processor to complete its pre-computed steady state workload. The DCVS may adjust the frequency and/or voltage of a processor based on a variable delay to ensure that the processing core only falls behind its steady state workload by, at most, a predefined maximum amount of work, irrespective of the operating frequency or voltage of the processor.