diff --git a/drivers/dose/dose.c b/drivers/dose/dose.c
index b7784e0669..58f9a64fdf 100644
--- a/drivers/dose/dose.c
+++ b/drivers/dose/dose.c
@@ -201,12 +201,12 @@ static dose_signal_t state_transit_idle(dose_t *ctx, dose_signal_t signal)
     (void) ctx;
     (void) signal;
 
-    _watchdog_stop();
-
     if (ctx->state == DOSE_STATE_RECV) {
         bool dirty = ctx->flags & DOSE_FLAG_RECV_BUF_DIRTY;
         bool done  = ctx->flags & DOSE_FLAG_END_RECEIVED;
 
+        _watchdog_stop();
+
         /* We got here from RECV state. The driver's thread has to look
          * if this frame should be processed. By queuing NETDEV_EVENT_ISR,
          * the netif thread will call _isr at some time. */