A power amplifier circuit for amplifying an input RF signal with respect to a specified RF output power, comprising - an input terminal for supplying the input RF signal to be amplified, - an output terminal for the RF signal with the output power specified, - an amplification path formed between the input terminal and the output terminal having a power amplification circuit for amplifying the RF signal, - a bypass formed between the input terminal and the output terminal for the RF signal to bypass the amplification path, - a control terminal for controlling the operation of the amplification path and the bypass such, that an RF signal is either passed through the amplification path or the bypass, and - a variable gain amplifier circuit for a pre-amplification of the input RF signal which is placed between the line from the input terminal to the amplification path and the bypass, characterised by - a delay control means (16, 17, 18, 19) adapted to control the variable gain amplifier circuit, the amplification path and the bypass by: when the RF output power of the RF signal is to be increased, first reducing the variable gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit, before the operating conditions of the amplification path and the bypass are set after a delay time period to a state in which the RF signal is passed through the amplification path to achieve the RF output power specified, and when the RF output power of the RF signal is to be reduced, first increasing the variable gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit, before the operating conditions of the amplification path and the bypass are set after a delay time period to a state in which the RF signal is passed through the bypass to achieve the RF output power specified. - an input terminal for supplying the input RF signal to be amplified, - an output terminal for the RF signal with the output power specified, - an amplification path formed between the input terminal and the output terminal having a power amplification circuit for amplifying the RF signal, - a bypass formed between the input terminal and the output terminal for the RF signal to bypass the amplification path, - a control terminal for controlling the operation of the amplification path and the bypass such, that an RF signal is either passed through the amplification path or the bypass, and - a variable gain amplifier circuit for a pre-amplification of the input RF signal which is placed between the line from the input terminal to the amplification path and the bypass, - a delay control means (16, 17, 18, 19) adapted to control the variable gain amplifier circuit, the amplification path and the bypass by: when the RF output power of the RF signal is to be increased, first reducing the variable gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit, before the operating conditions of the amplification path and the bypass are set after a delay time period to a state in which the RF signal is passed through the amplification path to achieve the RF output power specified, and when the RF output power of the RF signal is to be reduced, first increasing the variable gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit, before the operating conditions of the amplification path and the bypass are set after a delay time period to a state in which the RF signal is passed through the bypass to achieve the RF output power specified. when the RF output power of the RF signal is to be increased, first reducing the variable gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit, before the operating conditions of the amplification path and the bypass are set after a delay time period to a state in which the RF signal is passed through the amplification path to achieve the RF output power specified, and when the RF output power of the RF signal is to be reduced, first increasing the variable gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit, before the operating conditions of the amplification path and the bypass are set after a delay time period to a state in which the RF signal is passed through the bypass to achieve the RF output power specified.