diff --git a/drivers/char/watchdog/mv64x60_wdt.c b/drivers/char/watchdog/mv64x60_wdt.c
index e07007543d09..07582bb8aea4 100644
--- a/drivers/char/watchdog/mv64x60_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/char/watchdog/mv64x60_wdt.c
@@ -261,6 +261,8 @@ static int __devinit mv64x60_wdt_probe(struct platform_device *dev)
 
 	mv64x60_wdt_set_timeout(timeout);
 
+	mv64x60_wdt_handler_disable();	/* in case timer was already running */
+
 	return misc_register(&mv64x60_wdt_miscdev);
 }