diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c b/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
index f128efc36135..040bf8382f46 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
@@ -267,10 +267,12 @@ static int watchdog_stop(struct watchdog_device *wdd)
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}
 
-	if (wdd->ops->stop)
+	if (wdd->ops->stop) {
+		clear_bit(WDOG_HW_RUNNING, &wdd->status);
 		err = wdd->ops->stop(wdd);
-	else
+	} else {
 		set_bit(WDOG_HW_RUNNING, &wdd->status);
+	}
 
 	if (err == 0) {
 		clear_bit(WDOG_ACTIVE, &wdd->status);