diff --git a/target/linux/ath79/config-5.4 b/target/linux/ath79/config-5.4
index 6f607ee7e40..d591f884e70 100644
--- a/target/linux/ath79/config-5.4
+++ b/target/linux/ath79/config-5.4
@@ -244,3 +244,4 @@ CONFIG_TICK_CPU_ACCOUNTING=y
 CONFIG_TINY_SRCU=y
 CONFIG_USB_SUPPORT=y
 CONFIG_USE_OF=y
+CONFIG_WATCHDOG_CORE=y