diff --git a/etc/rc.d/watchdogd b/etc/rc.d/watchdogd
index bba1635d80db..9f25fbf39dd6 100755
--- a/etc/rc.d/watchdogd
+++ b/etc/rc.d/watchdogd
@@ -39,4 +39,7 @@ command="/usr/sbin/${name}"
 pidfile="/var/run/${name}.pid"
 
 load_rc_config $name
+
+sig_stop="${watchdogd_sig_stop:-TERM}"
+
 run_rc_command "$1"