diff --git a/board/kontron/sl28/sl28.c b/board/kontron/sl28/sl28.c
index adfec8ba237..0baf5c63f18 100644
--- a/board/kontron/sl28/sl28.c
+++ b/board/kontron/sl28/sl28.c
@@ -156,7 +156,8 @@ int fsl_board_late_init(void)
 	 * If the watchdog isn't enabled at reset (which is a configuration
 	 * option) disabling it doesn't hurt either.
 	 */
-	if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_WATCHDOG_AUTOSTART))
+	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_WDT_SL28CPLD) &&
+	    !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_WATCHDOG_AUTOSTART))
 		stop_recovery_watchdog();
 
 	return 0;