In an embodiment, a voltage reference circuit is disclosed that includes a first transistor circuit that is configured to receive an external supply voltage as an input and to output a first voltage and a chopper circuit that is configured to receive a second voltage as an input and to output a voltage reference. The chopper circuit has a breakage threshold. The voltage reference circuit further includes a second transistor circuit that is configured to receive the first voltage as an input and to output the second voltage at a value that is less than or equal to the breakage threshold of the chopper circuit.