diff --git a/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/watchdog b/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/watchdog
index e44cbb153e..65a45e53f2 100755
--- a/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/watchdog
+++ b/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/watchdog
@@ -9,5 +9,4 @@ start() {
 
 stop() {
 	killall -q watchdog
-	[ -c /dev/watchdog ] && echo "V" > /dev/watchdog
 }