Embodiments of an integrated circuit are described. This integrated circuit includes: a clock-generator circuit configured to provide a clock signal; an optical clock path coupled to the clock-generator circuit; and a latch coupled to the optical clock path. This optical clock path is configured to distribute an optical signal corresponding to the clock signal. Furthermore, the optical clock path is configured to optically set a skew value for the optical signal, and is configured to selectively gate distribution of the optical signal to the latch based on activity of the latch. Note that the selective gating is performed optically.