diff --git a/mt76x02_mmio.c b/mt76x02_mmio.c
index b7456ab1..9ca6150f 100644
--- a/mt76x02_mmio.c
+++ b/mt76x02_mmio.c
@@ -460,6 +460,7 @@ static void mt76x02_watchdog_reset(struct mt76x02_dev *dev)
 
 	mutex_lock(&dev->mt76.mutex);
 
+	dev->mcu_timeout = 0;
 	if (restart)
 		mt76x02_reset_state(dev);
 
@@ -559,10 +560,6 @@ static void mt76x02_check_tx_hang(struct mt76x02_dev *dev)
 restart:
 	mt76x02_watchdog_reset(dev);
 
-	mutex_lock(&dev->mt76.mcu.mutex);
-	dev->mcu_timeout = 0;
-	mutex_unlock(&dev->mt76.mcu.mutex);
-
 	dev->tx_hang_reset++;
 	dev->tx_hang_check = 0;
 	memset(dev->mt76.tx_dma_idx, 0xff,