diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c
index a370a185a41c..9048fa44897f 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c
@@ -426,6 +426,16 @@ static unsigned int iTCO_wdt_get_timeleft(struct watchdog_device *wd_dev)
 	return time_left;
 }
 
+static void iTCO_wdt_set_running(struct iTCO_wdt_private *p)
+{
+	u16 val;
+
+	/* Bit 11: TCO Timer Halt -> 0 = The TCO timer is * enabled */
+	val = inw(TCO1_CNT(p));
+	if (!(val & BIT(11)))
+		set_bit(WDOG_HW_RUNNING, &p->wddev.status);
+}
+
 /*
  *	Kernel Interfaces
  */
@@ -568,8 +578,7 @@ static int iTCO_wdt_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	watchdog_set_drvdata(&p->wddev, p);
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, p);
 
-	/* Make sure the watchdog is not running */
-	iTCO_wdt_stop(&p->wddev);
+	iTCO_wdt_set_running(p);
 
 	/* Check that the heartbeat value is within it's range;
 	   if not reset to the default */