diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c b/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
index 4bc7ab60b12c..0826e663bd5a 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
@@ -195,18 +195,23 @@ static int watchdog_ping(struct watchdog_device *wdd)
 	return __watchdog_ping(wdd);
 }
 
+static bool watchdog_worker_should_ping(struct watchdog_core_data *wd_data)
+{
+	struct watchdog_device *wdd = wd_data->wdd;
+
+	return wdd && (watchdog_active(wdd) || watchdog_hw_running(wdd));
+}
+
 static void watchdog_ping_work(struct work_struct *work)
 {
 	struct watchdog_core_data *wd_data;
-	struct watchdog_device *wdd;
 
 	wd_data = container_of(to_delayed_work(work), struct watchdog_core_data,
 			       work);
 
 	mutex_lock(&wd_data->lock);
-	wdd = wd_data->wdd;
-	if (wdd && (watchdog_active(wdd) || watchdog_hw_running(wdd)))
-		__watchdog_ping(wdd);
+	if (watchdog_worker_should_ping(wd_data))
+		__watchdog_ping(wd_data->wdd);
 	mutex_unlock(&wd_data->lock);
 }