A method and system for synchronizing a local optical clock with a master optical clock, wherein the local clock generates a local clock signal at a local clock wavelength, and said master clock generates a master clock signal at a master clock wavelength. The method comprises the steps of dithering the wavelengths of the local and master clock signals, and generating a control signal representing the difference between the dithered wavelengths of the local and master clock signals. That control signal is then used to synchronize the local clock with the master clock. Preferably, a wavelength-locked loop is used as a means of phase or wavelength control for the optically distributed clock signals. The wavelength-locked loop provides a technique to control the wavelength of a local optical clock source in a manner that will allow the local clock to follow variations in the wavelength of another optical signal.