diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/mena21_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/mena21_wdt.c
index 96dbba9805796938f2c64a85af8a66ccfdd58ac6..d193a5e79c381775ba683a5cf2153d8b0e5619c7 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/mena21_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/mena21_wdt.c
@@ -208,14 +208,15 @@ static int a21_wdt_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	else if (reset == 7)
 		a21_wdt.bootstatus |= WDIOF_EXTERN2;
 
+	drv->wdt = a21_wdt;
+	dev_set_drvdata(&pdev->dev, drv);
+
 	ret = watchdog_register_device(&a21_wdt);
 	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "Cannot register watchdog device\n");
 		goto err_register_wd;
 	}
 
-	dev_set_drvdata(&pdev->dev, drv);
-
 	dev_info(&pdev->dev, "MEN A21 watchdog timer driver enabled\n");
 
 	return 0;