diff --git a/samples/drivers/watchdog/prj.conf b/samples/drivers/watchdog/prj.conf
index 21db5b1cc8d..92f1d208b22 100644
--- a/samples/drivers/watchdog/prj.conf
+++ b/samples/drivers/watchdog/prj.conf
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 CONFIG_LOG=y
 CONFIG_WDT_LOG_LEVEL_DBG=y
 CONFIG_WATCHDOG=y
+CONFIG_WDT_DISABLE_AT_BOOT=n
diff --git a/tests/drivers/watchdog/wdt_basic_api/prj.conf b/tests/drivers/watchdog/wdt_basic_api/prj.conf
index fb5643761f1..fe10038e334 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/watchdog/wdt_basic_api/prj.conf
+++ b/tests/drivers/watchdog/wdt_basic_api/prj.conf
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 CONFIG_WATCHDOG=y
+CONFIG_WDT_DISABLE_AT_BOOT=n
 CONFIG_ZTEST=y
 CONFIG_BOOT_BANNER=n