A drive controller for a motor of a compressor, the drive controller comprising: a drive circuit configured to apply voltages to windings of the motor; a speed control module configured to control the drive circuit to rotate a rotor of the motor at a requested speed; a speed determination module configured to generate the requested speed;and a locked rotor protection module configured to identify a locked rotor condition and, in response to identifying the locked rotor condition, instruct the speed determination module to power down the motor, characterized in that: the locked rotor protection module is configured to acquire an estimated speed of the motor upon expiration of a predetermined time interval that begins upon startup of the motor, the locked rotor protection module is configured to identify the locked rotor condition in response to the estimated speed being lower than a threshold speed, the threshold speed is based on the requested speed, and the drive controller further comprises a startup module configured to start the motor by (i) causing the speed determination module to ramp the requested speed from zero up to a predetermined dwell speed and (ii) causing the speed determination module to maintain the requested speed at the predetermined dwell speed for a predetermined dwell time period. a drive circuit configured to apply voltages to windings of the motor; a speed control module configured to control the drive circuit to rotate a rotor of the motor at a requested speed; a speed determination module configured to generate the requested speed;and a locked rotor protection module configured to identify a locked rotor condition and, in response to identifying the locked rotor condition, instruct the speed determination module to power down the motor, characterized in that: the locked rotor protection module is configured to acquire an estimated speed of the motor upon expiration of a predetermined time interval that begins upon startup of the motor, the locked rotor protection module is configured to identify the locked rotor condition in response to the estimated speed being lower than a threshold speed, the threshold speed is based on the requested speed, and the drive controller further comprises a startup module configured to start the motor by (i) causing the speed determination module to ramp the requested speed from zero up to a predetermined dwell speed and (ii) causing the speed determination module to maintain the requested speed at the predetermined dwell speed for a predetermined dwell time period. the locked rotor protection module is configured to acquire an estimated speed of the motor upon expiration of a predetermined time interval that begins upon startup of the motor, the locked rotor protection module is configured to identify the locked rotor condition in response to the estimated speed being lower than a threshold speed, the threshold speed is based on the requested speed, and the drive controller further comprises a startup module configured to start the motor by (i) causing the speed determination module to ramp the requested speed from zero up to a predetermined dwell speed and (ii) causing the speed determination module to maintain the requested speed at the predetermined dwell speed for a predetermined dwell time period.