diff --git a/soc/arm/nxp_kinetis/kl2x/Kconfig.soc b/soc/arm/nxp_kinetis/kl2x/Kconfig.soc
index 7da61c20180..8e38cbb5073 100644
--- a/soc/arm/nxp_kinetis/kl2x/Kconfig.soc
+++ b/soc/arm/nxp_kinetis/kl2x/Kconfig.soc
@@ -77,4 +77,12 @@ config SOC_PART_NUMBER_KINETIS_KL2X
 	  that you should not set directly. The part number selection choice defines
 	  the default value for this string.
 
+config WDOG_INIT
+	def_bool y
+	help
+	  This processor enables the watchdog timer with a short
+	  window for configuration upon reset. Therefore, this
+	  requires that the watchdog be configured during reset
+	  handling.
+
 endif # SOC_SERIES_KINETIS_KL2X
diff --git a/soc/arm/nxp_kinetis/kl2x/soc.c b/soc/arm/nxp_kinetis/kl2x/soc.c
index 25103064ca3..96093e49387 100644
--- a/soc/arm/nxp_kinetis/kl2x/soc.c
+++ b/soc/arm/nxp_kinetis/kl2x/soc.c
@@ -81,9 +81,6 @@ static int kl2x_init(struct device *arg)
 	/* disable interrupts */
 	oldLevel = irq_lock();
 
-	/* Disable the watchdog */
-	SIM->COPC = 0;
-
 	/* Initialize system clock to 48 MHz */
 	clock_init();
 
@@ -98,4 +95,10 @@ static int kl2x_init(struct device *arg)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+void z_arm_watchdog_init(void)
+{
+	/* Disable the watchdog */
+	SIM->COPC = 0;
+}
+
 SYS_INIT(kl2x_init, PRE_KERNEL_1, 0);