diff --git a/kernel/watchdog.c b/kernel/watchdog.c
index 28c833b42124..3600a01c97a9 100644
--- a/kernel/watchdog.c
+++ b/kernel/watchdog.c
@@ -703,6 +703,71 @@ static int proc_watchdog_update(void)
 
 static DEFINE_MUTEX(watchdog_proc_mutex);
 
+/*
+ * common function for watchdog, nmi_watchdog and soft_watchdog parameter
+ *
+ * caller             | table->data points to | 'which' contains the flag(s)
+ * -------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------
+ * proc_watchdog      | watchdog_user_enabled | NMI_WATCHDOG_ENABLED or'ed
+ *                    |                       | with SOFT_WATCHDOG_ENABLED
+ * -------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------
+ * proc_nmi_watchdog  | nmi_watchdog_enabled  | NMI_WATCHDOG_ENABLED
+ * -------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------
+ * proc_soft_watchdog | soft_watchdog_enabled | SOFT_WATCHDOG_ENABLED
+ */
+static int proc_watchdog_common(int which, struct ctl_table *table, int write,
+				void __user *buffer, size_t *lenp, loff_t *ppos)
+{
+	int err, old, new;
+	int *watchdog_param = (int *)table->data;
+
+	mutex_lock(&watchdog_proc_mutex);
+
+	/*
+	 * If the parameter is being read return the state of the corresponding
+	 * bit(s) in 'watchdog_enabled', else update 'watchdog_enabled' and the
+	 * run state of the lockup detectors.
+	 */
+	if (!write) {
+		*watchdog_param = (watchdog_enabled & which) != 0;
+		err = proc_dointvec_minmax(table, write, buffer, lenp, ppos);
+	} else {
+		err = proc_dointvec_minmax(table, write, buffer, lenp, ppos);
+		if (err)
+			goto out;
+
+		/*
+		 * There is a race window between fetching the current value
+		 * from 'watchdog_enabled' and storing the new value. During
+		 * this race window, watchdog_nmi_enable() can sneak in and
+		 * clear the NMI_WATCHDOG_ENABLED bit in 'watchdog_enabled'.
+		 * The 'cmpxchg' detects this race and the loop retries.
+		 */
+		do {
+			old = watchdog_enabled;
+			/*
+			 * If the parameter value is not zero set the
+			 * corresponding bit(s), else clear it(them).
+			 */
+			if (*watchdog_param)
+				new = old | which;
+			else
+				new = old & ~which;
+		} while (cmpxchg(&watchdog_enabled, old, new) != old);
+
+		/*
+		 * Update the run state of the lockup detectors.
+		 * Restore 'watchdog_enabled' on failure.
+		 */
+		err = proc_watchdog_update();
+		if (err)
+			watchdog_enabled = old;
+	}
+out:
+	mutex_unlock(&watchdog_proc_mutex);
+	return err;
+}
+
 /*
  * proc handler for /proc/sys/kernel/nmi_watchdog,watchdog_thresh
  */