The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the thermal stress in lighting devices, for example light-emitting elements, that are exposed to large thermal gradients typically upon start-up, for example light-emitting elements operating in relatively cold ambient environments. The present invention provides an apparatus that can reduce this thermal stress, wherein the apparatus comprises a temperature determination mechanism for evaluating the temperature of the light-emitting elements prior to activation, and a control system to control the drive current such that it is gradually ramped up to the desired steady state peak current value, wherein the ramping of the drive current is dependent on the evaluated temperature of the light-emitting element.