A system and method for determining when an external load is coupled to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Specifically, in one embodiment, a load detector circuit comprises a video DAC, an output circuit, a dumping circuit, and a determining circuit. The video DAC comprises a differential architecture including a first output and a second output working in opposite phase. The first DAC output is coupled to the output circuit, which drives the external load. The second DAC output is coupled to a dumping circuit, and is configured such that the dumping circuit is balanced with the output circuit when the external load is present. A determining circuit examines the two outputs of the DAC to determine if the dumping circuit is balanced with the output circuit, and thus if the external load is present.