diff --git a/test/TEST-40-NBD/client-init.sh b/test/TEST-40-NBD/client-init.sh
index eb65b760..fcc28c0e 100755
--- a/test/TEST-40-NBD/client-init.sh
+++ b/test/TEST-40-NBD/client-init.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+>/dev/watchdog
 export PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
 exec >/dev/console 2>&1
 while read dev fs fstype opts rest; do
@@ -13,5 +14,7 @@ export PS1='nbdclient-test:\w\$ '
 stty sane
 echo "made it to the rootfs! Powering down."
 #sh -i
+>/dev/watchdog
 mount -n -o remount,ro / &> /dev/null
+>/dev/watchdog
 poweroff -f
diff --git a/test/TEST-40-NBD/test.sh b/test/TEST-40-NBD/test.sh
index 70401e31..f5465b67 100755
--- a/test/TEST-40-NBD/test.sh
+++ b/test/TEST-40-NBD/test.sh
@@ -338,8 +338,8 @@ test_setup() {
 
     sudo $basedir/dracut.sh -l -i $TESTDIR/overlay / \
 	-o "plymouth" \
-	-a "debug" \
-	-d "piix ide-gd_mod ata_piix ext2 ext3 sd_mod e1000" \
+	-a "debug watchdog" \
+	-d "piix ide-gd_mod ata_piix ext2 ext3 sd_mod e1000 ib700wdt" \
 	-f $TESTDIR/initramfs.testing $KVERSION || return 1
 }