diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c
index 22091a775f49..134237d8b8fc 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/iTCO_wdt.c
@@ -413,14 +413,18 @@ 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)
+/* Returns true if the watchdog was running */
+static bool iTCO_wdt_set_running(struct iTCO_wdt_private *p)
 {
 	u16 val;
 
-	/* Bit 11: TCO Timer Halt -> 0 = The TCO timer is * enabled */
+	/* Bit 11: TCO Timer Halt -> 0 = The TCO timer is enabled */
 	val = inw(TCO1_CNT(p));
-	if (!(val & BIT(11)))
+	if (!(val & BIT(11))) {
 		set_bit(WDOG_HW_RUNNING, &p->wddev.status);
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -511,9 +515,6 @@ static int iTCO_wdt_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		return -ENODEV;	/* Cannot reset NO_REBOOT bit */
 	}
 
-	/* Set the NO_REBOOT bit to prevent later reboots, just for sure */
-	p->update_no_reboot_bit(p->no_reboot_priv, true);
-
 	if (turn_SMI_watchdog_clear_off >= p->iTCO_version) {
 		/*
 		 * Bit 13: TCO_EN -> 0
@@ -565,7 +566,13 @@ static int iTCO_wdt_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	watchdog_set_drvdata(&p->wddev, p);
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, p);
 
-	iTCO_wdt_set_running(p);
+	if (!iTCO_wdt_set_running(p)) {
+		/*
+		 * If the watchdog was not running set NO_REBOOT now to
+		 * prevent later reboots.
+		 */
+		p->update_no_reboot_bit(p->no_reboot_priv, true);
+	}
 
 	/* Check that the heartbeat value is within it's range;
 	   if not reset to the default */