diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp b/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
index e37078ce5f..1276c42735 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ void setup() {
 
   the_mesh.begin(fs);
 
+  board.initWatchdog(the_mesh.getNodePrefs()->wdt_timeout_secs);
+
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   ui_task.begin(the_mesh.getNodePrefs(), FIRMWARE_BUILD_DATE, FIRMWARE_VERSION);
 #endif
@@ -106,6 +108,7 @@ void setup() {
 }
 
 void loop() {
+  board.feedWatchdog();
   int len = strlen(command);
   while (Serial.available() && len < sizeof(command)-1) {
     char c = Serial.read();
diff --git a/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp b/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp
index 825fb007d5..a7fe8f0506 100644
--- a/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ void setup() {
 
   the_mesh.begin(fs);
 
+  board.initWatchdog(the_mesh.getNodePrefs()->wdt_timeout_secs);
+
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   ui_task.begin(the_mesh.getNodePrefs(), FIRMWARE_BUILD_DATE, FIRMWARE_VERSION);
 #endif
@@ -83,6 +85,7 @@ void setup() {
 }
 
 void loop() {
+  board.feedWatchdog();
   int len = strlen(command);
   while (Serial.available() && len < sizeof(command)-1) {
     char c = Serial.read();
diff --git a/examples/simple_sensor/main.cpp b/examples/simple_sensor/main.cpp
index 330adcc2e4..aad4433464 100644
--- a/examples/simple_sensor/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_sensor/main.cpp
@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@ void setup() {
 
   the_mesh.begin(fs);
 
+  board.initWatchdog(the_mesh.getNodePrefs()->wdt_timeout_secs);
+
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   ui_task.begin(the_mesh.getNodePrefs(), FIRMWARE_BUILD_DATE, FIRMWARE_VERSION);
 #endif
@@ -117,6 +119,7 @@ void setup() {
 }
 
 void loop() {
+  board.feedWatchdog();
   int len = strlen(command);
   while (Serial.available() && len < sizeof(command)-1) {
     char c = Serial.read();
diff --git a/src/MeshCore.h b/src/MeshCore.h
index 2db1d4c3ec..577436741f 100644
--- a/src/MeshCore.h
+++ b/src/MeshCore.h
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ class MainBoard {
   virtual bool getBootloaderVersion(char* version, size_t max_len) { return false; }
   virtual bool startOTAUpdate(const char* id, char reply[]) { return false; }   // not supported
 
+  // Watchdog interface — override on platforms that support hardware WDT
+  virtual void initWatchdog(uint8_t timeout_secs) { }
+  virtual void feedWatchdog() { }
+
   // Power management interface (boards with power management override these)
   virtual bool isExternalPowered() { return false; }
   virtual uint16_t getBootVoltage() { return 0; }
diff --git a/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp b/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp
index b71afc72e2..4c909db022 100644
--- a/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ void CommonCLI::loadPrefsInt(FILESYSTEM* fs, const char* filename) {
     file.read((uint8_t *)&_prefs->adc_multiplier, sizeof(_prefs->adc_multiplier));                 // 166
     file.read((uint8_t *)_prefs->owner_info, sizeof(_prefs->owner_info));                          // 170
     file.read((uint8_t *)&_prefs->rx_boosted_gain, sizeof(_prefs->rx_boosted_gain));              // 290
-    // next: 291
+    file.read((uint8_t *)&_prefs->wdt_timeout_secs, sizeof(_prefs->wdt_timeout_secs));            // 291
+    // next: 292
 
     // sanitise bad pref values
     _prefs->rx_delay_base = constrain(_prefs->rx_delay_base, 0, 20.0f);
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ void CommonCLI::loadPrefsInt(FILESYSTEM* fs, const char* filename) {
 
     // sanitise settings
     _prefs->rx_boosted_gain = constrain(_prefs->rx_boosted_gain, 0, 1); // boolean
+    // wdt_timeout_secs: 0 is valid (disabled), no constrain needed — uint8_t can't exceed 255
 
     file.close();
   }
@@ -180,7 +182,8 @@ void CommonCLI::savePrefs(FILESYSTEM* fs) {
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs->adc_multiplier, sizeof(_prefs->adc_multiplier));                 // 166
     file.write((uint8_t *)_prefs->owner_info, sizeof(_prefs->owner_info));                          // 170
     file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs->rx_boosted_gain, sizeof(_prefs->rx_boosted_gain));              // 290
-    // next: 291
+    file.write((uint8_t *)&_prefs->wdt_timeout_secs, sizeof(_prefs->wdt_timeout_secs));            // 291
+    // next: 292
 
     file.close();
   }
@@ -656,6 +659,19 @@ void CommonCLI::handleSetCmd(uint32_t sender_timestamp, char* command, char* rep
       savePrefs();
       strcpy(reply, "OK");
     }
+  } else if (memcmp(config, "watchdog ", 9) == 0) {
+    uint32_t val = _atoi(&config[9]);
+    if (val > 255) {
+      strcpy(reply, "Error, must be 0 (off) or 1-255 (seconds)");
+    } else {
+      _prefs->wdt_timeout_secs = (uint8_t)val;
+      savePrefs();
+#if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
+      sprintf(reply, "OK - Watchdog %s (reboot to apply)", val == 0 ? "disabled" : "enabled");
+#else
+      sprintf(reply, "OK - Watchdog currently not implemented on this platform")
+#endif
+    }
   } else if (memcmp(config, "tx ", 3) == 0) {
     _prefs->tx_power_dbm = atoi(&config[3]);
     savePrefs();
@@ -808,6 +824,13 @@ void CommonCLI::handleGetCmd(uint32_t sender_timestamp, char* command, char* rep
     } else {
       strcpy(reply, "> strict");
     }
+  } else if (memcmp(config, "watchdog", 8) == 0 && (config[8] == 0 || config[8] == ' ')) {
+#if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
+    sprintf(reply, "> %u secs%s", _prefs->wdt_timeout_secs,
+            _prefs->wdt_timeout_secs == 0 ? " (disabled)" : " (active after reboot)");
+#else
+    strcpy(reply, "> not supported on this platform");
+#endif
   } else if (memcmp(config, "tx", 2) == 0 && (config[2] == 0 || config[2] == ' ')) {
     sprintf(reply, "> %d", (int32_t) _prefs->tx_power_dbm);
   } else if (memcmp(config, "freq", 4) == 0) {
diff --git a/src/helpers/CommonCLI.h b/src/helpers/CommonCLI.h
index ffdc7c6536..8334ad5769 100644
--- a/src/helpers/CommonCLI.h
+++ b/src/helpers/CommonCLI.h
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ struct NodePrefs { // persisted to file
   uint8_t rx_boosted_gain; // power settings
   uint8_t path_hash_mode;   // which path mode to use when sending
   uint8_t loop_detect;
+  uint8_t wdt_timeout_secs; // 0=disabled, 1-255=seconds (applies on reboot)
 };
 
 class CommonCLICallbacks {
diff --git a/src/helpers/NRF52Board.cpp b/src/helpers/NRF52Board.cpp
index 2c8753d464..0ea004677d 100644
--- a/src/helpers/NRF52Board.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/NRF52Board.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,49 @@ static void disconnect_callback(uint16_t conn_handle, uint8_t reason) {
 
 void NRF52Board::begin() {
   startup_reason = BD_STARTUP_NORMAL;
+  // NOTE: WDT is NOT started here. It is started from the application's
+  // setup() AFTER loading prefs, by calling initWatchdog(prefs.wdt_timeout_secs).
+  // This allows the timeout to be configured via CLI (set wdt N).
+}
+
+void NRF52Board::initWatchdog(uint8_t timeout_secs) {
+  // 0 = watchdog disabled
+  if (timeout_secs == 0) {
+    MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("WDT: Disabled by configuration (set wdt <secs> to enable)");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // WDT can only be configured once after reset (before TASKS_START).
+  // After START, CRV and CONFIG are read-only and locked until next reset.
+  if (_wdt_running) return;
+
+  // Convert seconds to 32.768 kHz ticks
+  uint32_t ticks = (uint32_t)timeout_secs * 32768UL;
+
+  // Configure WDT behavior:
+  // Bit 0 (SLEEP): 1 = Run in SLEEP mode (keep counting during WFE/WFI)
+  // Bit 3 (HALT):  1 = Run in HALT (debug) mode
+  // This is the safest configuration — WDT counts in all power states.
+  //
+  // NOTE: SLEEP_Run means the WDT keeps counting during board.sleep() / WFE.
+  // This is safe because the Adafruit nRF52 BSP runs FreeRTOS with a ~1ms
+  // tick timer that wakes the CPU from WFE frequently, so loop() and
+  // feedWatchdog() run well within the timeout window. If a future change
+  // enables FreeRTOS tickless idle or any sleep >timeout without waking,
+  // the timeout must be increased or SLEEP_Pause used instead.
+  NRF_WDT->CONFIG = (WDT_CONFIG_SLEEP_Run << WDT_CONFIG_SLEEP_Pos) |
+                     (WDT_CONFIG_HALT_Run << WDT_CONFIG_HALT_Pos);
+
+  NRF_WDT->CRV = ticks;
+  NRF_WDT->RREN = WDT_RREN_RR0_Enabled << WDT_RREN_RR0_Pos;
+  NRF_WDT->TASKS_START = 1;
+
+  _wdt_running = true;
+
+  // Initial kick so the full timeout window is available
+  NRF_WDT->RR[0] = WDT_RR_RR_Reload;
+
+  MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("WDT: Started with %u second timeout", (unsigned)timeout_secs);
 }
 
 #ifdef NRF52_POWER_MANAGEMENT
diff --git a/src/helpers/NRF52Board.h b/src/helpers/NRF52Board.h
index 96f67dc950..f5e85da42e 100644
--- a/src/helpers/NRF52Board.h
+++ b/src/helpers/NRF52Board.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <Arduino.h>
+#include <nrf.h>
 #include <MeshCore.h>
 
 #if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
@@ -48,6 +49,11 @@ class NRF52Board : public mesh::MainBoard {
   NRF52Board(char *otaname) : ota_name(otaname) {}
   virtual void begin();
   virtual uint8_t getStartupReason() const override { return startup_reason; }
+
+  void initWatchdog(uint8_t timeout_secs) override;
+  inline void feedWatchdog() override { if (_wdt_running) NRF_WDT->RR[0] = WDT_RR_RR_Reload; }
+  bool _wdt_running = false;
+
   virtual float getMCUTemperature() override;
   virtual void reboot() override { NVIC_SystemReset(); }
   virtual bool getBootloaderVersion(char* version, size_t max_len) override;