A sensor is compensated by selectively activating a temperature element to drive temperature within the thermal envelope encompassing the sensor towards an operating temperature and applying a compensation to output of the sensor based at least in part on the operating temperature. The initial ambient temperature is estimated and the operating temperature is selected from a set of predetermined temperatures based on the estimate. The current ambient temperature is estimated and a new operating temperature selected when the current ambient temperature is within a threshold of the operating temperature. Correspondingly, the temperature element is selectively activated to drive temperature within the thermal envelope towards the new operating temperature and an appropriate compensation is applied to the sensor output.