diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/orion_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/orion_wdt.c
index ea676d233e1e..9db3b09f7568 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/orion_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/orion_wdt.c
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@ static int orion_wdt_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	 */
 	if (!orion_wdt_enabled(&dev->wdt))
 		orion_wdt_stop(&dev->wdt);
+	else
+		set_bit(WDOG_HW_RUNNING, &dev->wdt.status);
 
 	/* Request the IRQ only after the watchdog is disabled */
 	irq = platform_get_irq(pdev, 0);