diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/mpc8xxx_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/mpc8xxx_wdt.c
index c1f65b4c0aa4..7831955cd9e1 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/mpc8xxx_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/mpc8xxx_wdt.c
@@ -237,6 +237,7 @@ static const struct of_device_id mpc8xxx_wdt_match[] = {
 		.compatible = "fsl,mpc823-wdt",
 		.data = &(struct mpc8xxx_wdt_type) {
 			.prescaler = 0x800,
+			.hw_enabled = true,
 		},
 	},
 	{},