diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/omap_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/omap_wdt.c
index af88ffd1068f..2b7e073f5e36 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/omap_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/omap_wdt.c
@@ -134,6 +134,13 @@ static int omap_wdt_start(struct watchdog_device *wdog)
 
 	pm_runtime_get_sync(wdev->dev);
 
+	/*
+	 * Make sure the watchdog is disabled. This is unfortunately required
+	 * because writing to various registers with the watchdog running has no
+	 * effect.
+	 */
+	omap_wdt_disable(wdev);
+
 	/* initialize prescaler */
 	while (__raw_readl(base + OMAP_WATCHDOG_WPS) & 0x01)
 		cpu_relax();