static struct timer_list watchdog_ticktock =
                TIMER_INITIALIZER(watchdog_fire, 0, 0);
-static unsigned long timer_alive;
+static unsigned long driver_open, orphan_timer;
 static char expect_close;
 
 
 
 static void watchdog_fire(unsigned long data)
 {
+       if (test_and_clear_bit(0, &orphan_timer))
+               module_put(THIS_MODULE);
+
        if (soft_noboot)
                printk(KERN_CRIT PFX "Triggered - Reboot ignored.\n");
        else
 
 static int softdog_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 {
-       if(test_and_set_bit(0, &timer_alive))
+       if (test_and_set_bit(0, &driver_open))
                return -EBUSY;
-       if (nowayout)
+       if (!test_and_clear_bit(0, &orphan_timer))
                __module_get(THIS_MODULE);
        /*
         *      Activate timer
         */
        if (expect_close == 42) {
                softdog_stop();
+               module_put(THIS_MODULE);
        } else {
                printk(KERN_CRIT PFX "Unexpected close, not stopping watchdog!\n");
+               set_bit(0, &orphan_timer);
                softdog_keepalive();
        }
-       clear_bit(0, &timer_alive);
+       clear_bit(0, &driver_open);
        expect_close = 0;
        return 0;
 }