diff --git a/lib_blackfin/board.c b/lib_blackfin/board.c
index b0b52b2..4e9bb19 100644
--- a/lib_blackfin/board.c
+++ b/lib_blackfin/board.c
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@
  * "continue" and != 0 means "fatal error, hang the system".
  */
 
+extern int watchdog_init(void);
 extern int exception_init(void);
 extern int irq_init(void);
 extern int timer_init(void);
@@ -229,6 +230,11 @@
 	dcache_enable();
 #endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_WATCHDOG
+	serial_early_puts("Setting up external watchdog\n");
+	watchdog_init();
+#endif
+
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	if (CONFIG_SYS_GBL_DATA_SIZE < sizeof(*gd))
 		hang();