diff --git a/src/helpers/Watchdog.cpp b/src/helpers/Watchdog.cpp
index 92f20dfb..f5d85df7 100644
--- a/src/helpers/Watchdog.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/Watchdog.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 #include <signal.h>
 #include "config/ConfigManager.hpp"
 
+CWatchdog::~CWatchdog() {
+    m_pWatchdog.reset();
+}
+
 CWatchdog::CWatchdog() {
     m_iMainThreadPID = pthread_self();
 
diff --git a/src/helpers/Watchdog.hpp b/src/helpers/Watchdog.hpp
index 1868bd0f..edbfb055 100644
--- a/src/helpers/Watchdog.hpp
+++ b/src/helpers/Watchdog.hpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ class CWatchdog {
   public:
     // must be called from the main thread
     CWatchdog();
+    ~CWatchdog();
 
     void startWatching();
     void endWatching();