diff --git a/kernel/watchdog.c b/kernel/watchdog.c
index b4560a8480c9..2886c0388f93 100644
--- a/kernel/watchdog.c
+++ b/kernel/watchdog.c
@@ -497,10 +497,12 @@ int proc_dowatchdog_enabled(struct ctl_table *table, int write,
 {
 	proc_dointvec(table, write, buffer, length, ppos);
 
-	if (watchdog_enabled)
-		watchdog_enable_all_cpus();
-	else
-		watchdog_disable_all_cpus();
+	if (write) {
+		if (watchdog_enabled)
+			watchdog_enable_all_cpus();
+		else
+			watchdog_disable_all_cpus();
+	}
 	return 0;
 }