A continuous mode electronic ballast operates a lamp. A buck converter is configured to generate a direct current (DC) bus voltage at buck converter output. An inverter circuit is operationally coupled to the buck converter output, and configured to receive the DC voltage and convert the DC voltage into an AC voltage to drive the lamp. A short circuit protection circuit is operationally coupled to the buck converter output to sense the DC bus voltage, compare the sensed DC voltage to a predetermined threshold and, based on the comparison, shut down the inverter circuit.