diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/socfpga/misc.c b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/socfpga/misc.c
index ecae393..b633615 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/socfpga/misc.c
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/socfpga/misc.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <asm/io.h>
 #include <miiphy.h>
 #include <netdev.h>
+#include <asm/arch/reset_manager.h>
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
@@ -36,6 +37,19 @@
 }
 #endif
 
+int arch_cpu_init(void)
+{
+	/*
+	 * If the HW watchdog is NOT enabled, make sure it is not running,
+	 * for example because it was enabled in the preloader. This might
+	 * trigger a watchdog-triggered reboot of Linux kernel later.
+	 */
+#ifndef CONFIG_HW_WATCHDOG
+	socfpga_watchdog_reset();
+#endif
+	return 0;
+}
+
 int misc_init_r(void)
 {
 	return 0;
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/socfpga/reset_manager.c b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/socfpga/reset_manager.c
index e320c01..5d7aba4 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/socfpga/reset_manager.c
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/socfpga/reset_manager.c
@@ -14,6 +14,18 @@
 static const struct socfpga_reset_manager *reset_manager_base =
 		(void *)SOCFPGA_RSTMGR_ADDRESS;
 
+/* Toggle reset signal to watchdog (WDT is disabled after this operation!) */
+void socfpga_watchdog_reset(void)
+{
+	/* assert reset for watchdog */
+	setbits_le32(&reset_manager_base->per_mod_reset,
+		     1 << RSTMGR_PERMODRST_L4WD0_LSB);
+
+	/* deassert watchdog from reset (watchdog in not running state) */
+	clrbits_le32(&reset_manager_base->per_mod_reset,
+		     1 << RSTMGR_PERMODRST_L4WD0_LSB);
+}
+
 /*
  * Write the reset manager register to cause reset
  */