diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/pnx4008_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/pnx4008_wdt.c
index 51be66e8a473..0529aed158a4 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/pnx4008_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/pnx4008_wdt.c
@@ -129,6 +129,21 @@ static int pnx4008_wdt_set_timeout(struct watchdog_device *wdd,
 static int pnx4008_restart_handler(struct watchdog_device *wdd,
 				   unsigned long mode, void *cmd)
 {
+	const char *boot_cmd = cmd;
+
+	/*
+	 * Verify if a "cmd" passed from the userspace program rebooting
+	 * the system; if available, handle it.
+	 * - For details, see the 'reboot' syscall in kernel/reboot.c
+	 * - If the received "cmd" is not supported, use the default mode.
+	 */
+	if (boot_cmd) {
+		if (boot_cmd[0] == 'h')
+			mode = REBOOT_HARD;
+		else if (boot_cmd[0] == 's')
+			mode = REBOOT_SOFT;
+	}
+
 	if (mode == REBOOT_SOFT) {
 		/* Force match output active */
 		writel(EXT_MATCH0, WDTIM_EMR(wdt_base));