diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/wd_core.c b/drivers/watchdog/wd_core.c
index a17234f..377fd23 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/wd_core.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/wd_core.c
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@
 	if (timeout > wd->timeout_max)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	if (watchdog_hw_running(wd) == false)
+		return 0;
+
 	pr_debug("setting timeout on %s to %ds\n", watchdog_name(wd), timeout);
 
 	ret = wd->set_timeout(wd, timeout);