diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/imx2_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/imx2_wdt.c
index 1b0faa26dbd4..a606005dd65f 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/imx2_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/imx2_wdt.c
@@ -178,8 +178,10 @@ static void __imx2_wdt_set_timeout(struct watchdog_device *wdog,
 static int imx2_wdt_set_timeout(struct watchdog_device *wdog,
 				unsigned int new_timeout)
 {
-	__imx2_wdt_set_timeout(wdog, new_timeout);
+	unsigned int actual;
 
+	actual = min(new_timeout, wdog->max_hw_heartbeat_ms * 1000);
+	__imx2_wdt_set_timeout(wdog, actual);
 	wdog->timeout = new_timeout;
 	return 0;
 }