Method and apparatus for accelerating a motor from an intermediate velocity to a final operational velocity. The motor is accelerated from rest to the intermediate velocity through application of fixed duration drive pulses to the spindle motor. Once the motor reaches the intermediate velocity, commutation circuitry and back electromotive force (bemf) detection circuitry use detected bemf from the motor to electronically commutate the motor to accelerate to the final operational speed. A phase lock oscillator (PLO) attempts to acquire frequency lock for the motor. A control circuit measures the current in the motor to evaluate the effectiveness of the phase lock. If the measured current is found to be above a threshold value, the motor is restarted.