diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/Kconfig b/drivers/watchdog/Kconfig
index 8623b54ce9d..1a0ce7c03a5 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/Kconfig
@@ -14,8 +14,13 @@ if WATCHDOG
 
 config WDT_DISABLE_AT_BOOT
 	bool "Disable at boot"
+	default y
 	help
-	  Disable watchdog at Zephyr system startup.
+	  Disable watchdog at Zephyr system startup for the SoCs that enable
+	  the watchdog by default after reset.
+
+	  Note that disabling this configuration option does not enable the
+	  watchdog for the SoCs that boot with the watchdog disabled.
 
 module = WDT
 module-str = watchdog