diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/kempld_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/kempld_wdt.c
index 73c46b3a09ab..2f3b049ea301 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/kempld_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/kempld_wdt.c
@@ -140,12 +140,19 @@ static int kempld_wdt_set_stage_timeout(struct kempld_wdt_data *wdt_data,
 					unsigned int timeout)
 {
 	struct kempld_device_data *pld = wdt_data->pld;
-	u32 prescaler = kempld_prescaler[PRESCALER_21];
+	u32 prescaler;
 	u64 stage_timeout64;
 	u32 stage_timeout;
 	u32 remainder;
 	u8 stage_cfg;
 
+#if GCC_VERSION < 40400
+	/* work around a bug compiling do_div() */
+	prescaler = READ_ONCE(kempld_prescaler[PRESCALER_21]);
+#else
+	prescaler = kempld_prescaler[PRESCALER_21];
+#endif
+
 	if (!stage)
 		return -EINVAL;