A lighting device (10) comprises a LED (4), a driver (3), and a controller (2) which regularly switches from a drive state to a measuring state and back. In the measuring state, the controller controls the driver such that the driver does not generate any LED current. The LED produces a measuring signal (Sm) indicating a measured light level. The controller processes the measuring signal received from the LED, and makes a decision on the desired light output of the LED. In the drive state, the controller controls the driver such that the average light output produced by the LED corresponds to the desired light output as determined in the measuring state. In a possible embodiment, the driver generates a nominal LED current INOM, and sets the duration (τ1) of the drive state on the basis of the desired light output of the LED as determined in the measuring state.