In one embodiment, a method for power mode transition in a multi-threshold complementary metal oxide semiconductor (MTCMOS) circuit includes clustering logic cells in the circuit to a number of logic clusters and optimizing wake-up times of the logic clusters to reduce a total turn-on time of the circuit while keeping below a predetermined threshold a sum of currents flowing from the circuit to ground, a sum of currents flowing from a supply voltage to the circuit, or both during a transition by the circuit from sleep mode to active mode.