diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/cpu5wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/cpu5wdt.c
index 688b112e712b..9f279c0e13a6 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/cpu5wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/cpu5wdt.c
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ static void cpu5wdt_exit(void)
 	if (cpu5wdt_device.queue) {
 		cpu5wdt_device.queue = 0;
 		wait_for_completion(&cpu5wdt_device.stop);
-		del_timer(&cpu5wdt_device.timer);
+		timer_shutdown_sync(&cpu5wdt_device.timer);
 	}
 
 	misc_deregister(&cpu5wdt_misc);