diff --git a/board/gateworks/gw_ventana/gw_ventana_spl.c b/board/gateworks/gw_ventana/gw_ventana_spl.c
index cde04cfacc..84d027d441 100644
--- a/board/gateworks/gw_ventana/gw_ventana_spl.c
+++ b/board/gateworks/gw_ventana/gw_ventana_spl.c
@@ -527,6 +527,9 @@ void board_init_f(ulong dummy)
 	/* Clear the BSS. */
 	memset(__bss_start, 0, __bss_end - __bss_start);
 
+	/* disable boot watchdog */
+	gsc_boot_wd_disable();
+
 	/* load/boot image from boot device */
 	board_init_r(NULL, 0);
 }