diff --git a/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_agilex_socdk-u-boot.dtsi b/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_agilex_socdk-u-boot.dtsi
index debeb8b239..6cac36a1fc 100644
--- a/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_agilex_socdk-u-boot.dtsi
+++ b/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_agilex_socdk-u-boot.dtsi
@@ -40,3 +40,7 @@
 &qspi {
 	status = "okay";
 };
+
+&watchdog0 {
+	u-boot,dm-pre-reloc;
+};
diff --git a/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_arria10_socdk-u-boot.dtsi b/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_arria10_socdk-u-boot.dtsi
index 58cd497821..22e614d04c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_arria10_socdk-u-boot.dtsi
+++ b/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_arria10_socdk-u-boot.dtsi
@@ -15,3 +15,7 @@
 &uart1 {
 	u-boot,dm-pre-reloc;
 };
+
+&watchdog1 {
+        u-boot,dm-pre-reloc;
+};
diff --git a/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_stratix10.dtsi b/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_stratix10.dtsi
index a8e61cf728..cb799bc551 100755
--- a/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_stratix10.dtsi
+++ b/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_stratix10.dtsi
@@ -386,7 +386,6 @@
 			reg = <0xffd00200 0x100>;
 			interrupts = <0 117 4>;
 			resets = <&rst WATCHDOG0_RESET>;
-			u-boot,dm-pre-reloc;
 			status = "disabled";
 		};
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_stratix10_socdk-u-boot.dtsi b/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_stratix10_socdk-u-boot.dtsi
index a903040d60..2669abb383 100755
--- a/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_stratix10_socdk-u-boot.dtsi
+++ b/arch/arm/dts/socfpga_stratix10_socdk-u-boot.dtsi
@@ -33,5 +33,6 @@
 };
 
 &watchdog0 {
+	status = "okay";
 	u-boot,dm-pre-reloc;
 };
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-socfpga/spl_agilex.c b/arch/arm/mach-socfpga/spl_agilex.c
index 0121ff431f..78b5d7c8d9 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-socfpga/spl_agilex.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-socfpga/spl_agilex.c
@@ -51,11 +51,11 @@ void board_init_f(ulong dummy)
 
 	socfpga_get_managers_addr();
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_HW_WATCHDOG
 	/* Ensure watchdog is paused when debugging is happening */
 	writel(SYSMGR_WDDBG_PAUSE_ALL_CPU,
 	       socfpga_get_sysmgr_addr() + SYSMGR_SOC64_WDDBG);
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_HW_WATCHDOG
 	/* Enable watchdog before initializing the HW */
 	socfpga_per_reset(SOCFPGA_RESET(L4WD0), 1);
 	socfpga_per_reset(SOCFPGA_RESET(L4WD0), 0);
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-socfpga/spl_s10.c b/arch/arm/mach-socfpga/spl_s10.c
index 1f7118226c..daed05653a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-socfpga/spl_s10.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-socfpga/spl_s10.c
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ void board_init_f(ulong dummy)
 
 	socfpga_get_managers_addr();
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_HW_WATCHDOG
 	/* Ensure watchdog is paused when debugging is happening */
 	writel(SYSMGR_WDDBG_PAUSE_ALL_CPU,
 	       socfpga_get_sysmgr_addr() + SYSMGR_SOC64_WDDBG);
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_HW_WATCHDOG
 	/* Enable watchdog before initializing the HW */
 	socfpga_per_reset(SOCFPGA_RESET(L4WD0), 1);
 	socfpga_per_reset(SOCFPGA_RESET(L4WD0), 0);
diff --git a/configs/socfpga_agilex_defconfig b/configs/socfpga_agilex_defconfig
index ee1a665605..c4db1d0835 100644
--- a/configs/socfpga_agilex_defconfig
+++ b/configs/socfpga_agilex_defconfig
@@ -60,5 +60,7 @@ CONFIG_USB=y
 CONFIG_DM_USB=y
 CONFIG_USB_DWC2=y
 CONFIG_USB_STORAGE=y
+CONFIG_DESIGNWARE_WATCHDOG=y
+CONFIG_WDT=y
 # CONFIG_SPL_USE_TINY_PRINTF is not set
 CONFIG_PANIC_HANG=y