A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising: a thyristor adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, the thyristor comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal, and a gate terminal, the first and second main terminals configured to conduct current to energize the electrical load, the gate terminal configured to conduct current to render the thyristor conductive, a gate current path connected to the gate terminal, the gate current path comprising a gate coupling circuit and configured to conduct current through the gate terminal of the thyristor; and a control circuit electrically coupled to the gate coupling circuit to control the gate current path, the control circuit configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of the current through the gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source, characterised in that the control circuit is further configured to operate in a first gate drive mode and a second gate drive mode, wherein, in the first gate drive mode, the control circuit renders the gate current path conductive for a pulse time period and renders the gate current path non-conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle of the AC power source, and wherein, in the second gate drive mode, the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period to allow at least one other pulse of current to be conducted through the gate terminal of the thyristor after the pulse time period during the half-cycle of the AC power source. a thyristor adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, the thyristor comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal, and a gate terminal, the first and second main terminals configured to conduct current to energize the electrical load, the gate terminal configured to conduct current to render the thyristor conductive, a gate current path connected to the gate terminal, the gate current path comprising a gate coupling circuit and configured to conduct current through the gate terminal of the thyristor; and a control circuit electrically coupled to the gate coupling circuit to control the gate current path, the control circuit configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of the current through the gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source, characterised in that the control circuit is further configured to operate in a first gate drive mode and a second gate drive mode, wherein, in the first gate drive mode, the control circuit renders the gate current path conductive for a pulse time period and renders the gate current path non-conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle of the AC power source, and wherein, in the second gate drive mode, the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period to allow at least one other pulse of current to be conducted through the gate terminal of the thyristor after the pulse time period during the half-cycle of the AC power source. <EOS>