diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/ixp4xx_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/ixp4xx_wdt.c
index 41264a5f1731..8302ef005be7 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/ixp4xx_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/ixp4xx_wdt.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ static int nowayout = WATCHDOG_NOWAYOUT;
 static int heartbeat = 60;	/* (secs) Default is 1 minute */
 static unsigned long wdt_status;
 static unsigned long boot_status;
-static spin_lock_t wdt_lock;
+static DEFINE_SPINLOCK(wdt_lock);
 
 #define WDT_TICK_RATE (IXP4XX_PERIPHERAL_BUS_CLOCK * 1000000UL)