diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c b/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
index e2c5abbb45ff..3595cffa24ea 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
@@ -736,7 +736,6 @@ static int watchdog_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 		watchdog_ping(wdd);
 	}
 
-	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&wd_data->work);
 	watchdog_update_worker(wdd);
 
 	/* make sure that /dev/watchdog can be re-opened */