Abstract In this paper, an efficient approach is developed for real‐time global asymptotic stabilization of the chaotic Chen's circuit, as a typical example for chaotic circuit control. Based on a recently introduced methodology of inverse optimal control for nonlinear systems, a very simple stabilization control law, a linear state feedback, is electronically implemented for the desired global asymptotic stabilization. Both Chen's chaotic system and the designed controller are synthesized and realized by analog electronic components, with the aim of evaluating the physical performance of the real‐time control law and demonstrating the practicality of the control method, which is robust to some input uncertainties. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.