diff --git a/kernel/watchdog_perf.c b/kernel/watchdog_perf.c
index 8ea00c4a24b2..0052afe18b7f 100644
--- a/kernel/watchdog_perf.c
+++ b/kernel/watchdog_perf.c
@@ -75,11 +75,15 @@ static bool watchdog_check_timestamp(void)
 	__this_cpu_write(last_timestamp, now);
 	return true;
 }
-#else
-static inline bool watchdog_check_timestamp(void)
+
+static void watchdog_init_timestamp(void)
 {
-	return true;
+	__this_cpu_write(nmi_rearmed, 0);
+	__this_cpu_write(last_timestamp, ktime_get_mono_fast_ns());
 }
+#else
+static inline bool watchdog_check_timestamp(void) { return true; }
+static inline void watchdog_init_timestamp(void) { }
 #endif
 
 static struct perf_event_attr wd_hw_attr = {
@@ -147,6 +151,7 @@ void watchdog_hardlockup_enable(unsigned int cpu)
 	if (!atomic_fetch_inc(&watchdog_cpus))
 		pr_info("Enabled. Permanently consumes one hw-PMU counter.\n");
 
+	watchdog_init_timestamp();
 	perf_event_enable(this_cpu_read(watchdog_ev));
 }