diff --git a/mt7603.h b/mt7603.h
index 69396a60..4c3a8563 100644
--- a/mt7603.h
+++ b/mt7603.h
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ struct sk_buff *mt7603_mac_status_skb(struct mt7603_dev *dev,
 void mt7603_mac_rx_ba_reset(struct mt7603_dev *dev, void *addr, u8 tid);
 void mt7603_mac_tx_ba_reset(struct mt7603_dev *dev, int wcid, int tid, int ssn,
 			    int ba_size);
+void mt7603_mac_watchdog_reset(struct mt7603_dev *dev);
 
 int mt7603_mcu_set_channel(struct mt7603_dev *dev);
 int mt7603_mcu_reg_read(struct mt7603_dev *dev, u32 reg, u32 *val, bool rf);
diff --git a/mt7603_mac.c b/mt7603_mac.c
index 15822f57..33bf672b 100644
--- a/mt7603_mac.c
+++ b/mt7603_mac.c
@@ -975,7 +975,7 @@ void mt7603_mac_stop(struct mt7603_dev *dev)
 	mt76_clear(dev, MT_WF_ARB_RQCR, MT_WF_ARB_RQCR_RX_START);
 }
 
-static void mt7603_mac_watchdog_reset(struct mt7603_dev *dev)
+void mt7603_mac_watchdog_reset(struct mt7603_dev *dev)
 {
 	int beacon_int = dev->beacon_int;
 	u32 mask = dev->irqmask;
diff --git a/mt7603_main.c b/mt7603_main.c
index f5706863..82513f3f 100644
--- a/mt7603_main.c
+++ b/mt7603_main.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ mt7603_start(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 	struct mt7603_dev *dev = hw->priv;
 
 	mt7603_mac_start(dev);
+	mt7603_mac_watchdog_reset(dev);
 	ieee80211_queue_delayed_work(mt76_hw(dev), &dev->mac_work,
 				     MT7603_WATCHDOG_TIME);
 	set_bit(MT76_STATE_RUNNING, &dev->mt76.state);