diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/dw_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/dw_wdt.c
index 738eee5c8751..fba21de2bbad 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/dw_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/dw_wdt.c
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ static int dw_wdt_start(struct watchdog_device *wdd)
 	struct dw_wdt *dw_wdt = to_dw_wdt(wdd);
 
 	dw_wdt_set_timeout(wdd, wdd->timeout);
+	dw_wdt_ping(&dw_wdt->wdd);
 	dw_wdt_arm_system_reset(dw_wdt);
 
 	return 0;