The transient response of a three‐level optical maser is calculated for a density of homogeneously broadened atoms coupled to one homogeneously broadened cavity mode. The atoms are treated in terms of the density matrix and the cavity mode is treated classically. Solutions are found analytically for the steady state and for the linearized form of two simplifications of the general equations. These special solutions have been previously obtained by Bloom and Statz and de Mars. Numerical solutions are found for a certain set of parameters. The response linewidth is found assuming one cavity mode coupled to a density of inhomogeneously broadened atoms.