diff --git a/Documentation/watchdog/watchdog-parameters.txt b/Documentation/watchdog/watchdog-parameters.txt
index 74252c431e05..9f9ec9f76039 100644
--- a/Documentation/watchdog/watchdog-parameters.txt
+++ b/Documentation/watchdog/watchdog-parameters.txt
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ nowayout: Watchdog cannot be stopped once started
 -------------------------------------------------
 omap_wdt:
 timer_margin: initial watchdog timeout (in seconds)
+early_enable: Watchdog is started on module insertion (default=0
 nowayout: Watchdog cannot be stopped once started
 	(default=kernel config parameter)
 -------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/omap_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/omap_wdt.c
index ebea6e66fba9..de911c7e477c 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/omap_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/omap_wdt.c
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ MODULE_PARM_DESC(timer_margin, "initial watchdog timeout (in seconds)");
 
 #define to_omap_wdt_dev(_wdog)	container_of(_wdog, struct omap_wdt_dev, wdog)
 
+static bool early_enable;
+module_param(early_enable, bool, 0);
+MODULE_PARM_DESC(early_enable,
+	"Watchdog is started on module insertion (default=0)");
+
 struct omap_wdt_dev {
 	struct watchdog_device wdog;
 	void __iomem    *base;          /* physical */
@@ -279,6 +284,9 @@ static int omap_wdt_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	pm_runtime_put_sync(wdev->dev);
 
+	if (early_enable)
+		omap_wdt_start(&wdev->wdog);
+
 	return 0;
 }