diff --git a/src/core/service.c b/src/core/service.c
index aa8acdef78..4f8eaf4051 100644
--- a/src/core/service.c
+++ b/src/core/service.c
@@ -1418,7 +1418,8 @@ static int service_coldplug(Unit *u) {
                     SERVICE_DEAD_RESOURCES_PINNED))
                 (void) unit_setup_exec_runtime(u);
 
-        if (IN_SET(s->deserialized_state, SERVICE_START_POST, SERVICE_RUNNING, SERVICE_RELOAD, SERVICE_RELOAD_SIGNAL, SERVICE_RELOAD_NOTIFY, SERVICE_REFRESH_EXTENSIONS, SERVICE_MOUNTING))
+        if (IN_SET(s->deserialized_state, SERVICE_START_POST, SERVICE_RUNNING, SERVICE_RELOAD, SERVICE_RELOAD_SIGNAL, SERVICE_RELOAD_NOTIFY, SERVICE_REFRESH_EXTENSIONS, SERVICE_MOUNTING) &&
+            freezer_state_finish(u->freezer_state) == FREEZER_RUNNING)
                 service_start_watchdog(s);
 
         if (UNIT_ISSET(s->accept_socket)) {