An exterior light control system for controlling exterior lights of a controlled vehicle is provided, which includes an imager configured to image a scene external and forward of the controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A controller is configured to receive and analyze the image data and generate a control signal for controlling the exterior lights of the controlled vehicle. The controller is further configured to receive temperature information relating to an operational temperature of the imager, wherein when the controller determines that the operational temperature of the imager is below a temperature threshold, the control signal includes an indication that the imager is blocked.