diff --git a/board/xilinx/zynq/board.c b/board/xilinx/zynq/board.c
index b4b84df..ea26aad 100644
--- a/board/xilinx/zynq/board.c
+++ b/board/xilinx/zynq/board.c
@@ -19,17 +19,12 @@
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
 #if !defined(CONFIG_SPL_BUILD) && defined(CONFIG_WDT)
-static struct udevice *watchdog_dev;
+static struct udevice *watchdog_dev __attribute__((section(".data"))) = NULL;
 #endif
 
 #if !defined(CONFIG_SPL_BUILD) && defined(CONFIG_BOARD_EARLY_INIT_F)
 int board_early_init_f(void)
 {
-# if defined(CONFIG_WDT)
-	/* bss is not cleared at time when watchdog_reset() is called */
-	watchdog_dev = NULL;
-# endif
-
 	return 0;
 }
 #endif