Heating resistor used to control laser operation. A laser package, such as a Transmitter Optical Subassembly (TOSA) includes a substrate. A laser is disposed on the substrate. A resistive heating element is disposed on the substrate with the laser. Control circuitry is connected to the resistive heating element. The control circuitry is configured to cause current flow through the resistive heating element based on temperature conditions. Current flow through the resistive heating element causes an increase in the operating temperature of the laser. This can be used to increase the effective operating temperature range of a laser.