diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/it8712f_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/it8712f_wdt.c
index 6143f52..6901449 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/it8712f_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/it8712f_wdt.c
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@
 
 static unsigned long wdt_open;
 static unsigned expect_close;
-static spinlock_t io_lock;
 static unsigned char revision;
 
 /* Dog Food address - We use the game port address */
@@ -121,20 +120,26 @@
 	outb(ldn, VAL);
 }
 
-static inline void superio_enter(void)
+static inline int superio_enter(void)
 {
-	spin_lock(&io_lock);
+	/*
+	 * Try to reserve REG and REG + 1 for exclusive access.
+	 */
+	if (!request_muxed_region(REG, 2, NAME))
+		return -EBUSY;
+
 	outb(0x87, REG);
 	outb(0x01, REG);
 	outb(0x55, REG);
 	outb(0x55, REG);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static inline void superio_exit(void)
 {
 	outb(0x02, REG);
 	outb(0x02, VAL);
-	spin_unlock(&io_lock);
+	release_region(REG, 2);
 }
 
 static inline void it8712f_wdt_ping(void)
@@ -173,10 +178,13 @@
 		return 0;
 }
 
-static void it8712f_wdt_enable(void)
+static int it8712f_wdt_enable(void)
 {
+	int ret = superio_enter();
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
 	printk(KERN_DEBUG NAME ": enabling watchdog timer\n");
-	superio_enter();
 	superio_select(LDN_GPIO);
 
 	superio_outb(wdt_control_reg, WDT_CONTROL);
@@ -186,13 +194,17 @@
 	superio_exit();
 
 	it8712f_wdt_ping();
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
-static void it8712f_wdt_disable(void)
+static int it8712f_wdt_disable(void)
 {
-	printk(KERN_DEBUG NAME ": disabling watchdog timer\n");
+	int ret = superio_enter();
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
-	superio_enter();
+	printk(KERN_DEBUG NAME ": disabling watchdog timer\n");
 	superio_select(LDN_GPIO);
 
 	superio_outb(0, WDT_CONFIG);
@@ -202,6 +214,7 @@
 	superio_outb(0, WDT_TIMEOUT);
 
 	superio_exit();
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int it8712f_wdt_notify(struct notifier_block *this,
@@ -252,6 +265,7 @@
 						WDIOF_MAGICCLOSE,
 	};
 	int value;
+	int ret;
 
 	switch (cmd) {
 	case WDIOC_GETSUPPORT:
@@ -259,7 +273,9 @@
 			return -EFAULT;
 		return 0;
 	case WDIOC_GETSTATUS:
-		superio_enter();
+		ret = superio_enter();
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
 		superio_select(LDN_GPIO);
 
 		value = it8712f_wdt_get_status();
@@ -280,7 +296,9 @@
 		if (value > (max_units * 60))
 			return -EINVAL;
 		margin = value;
-		superio_enter();
+		ret = superio_enter();
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
 		superio_select(LDN_GPIO);
 
 		it8712f_wdt_update_margin();
@@ -299,10 +317,14 @@
 
 static int it8712f_wdt_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 {
+	int ret;
 	/* only allow one at a time */
 	if (test_and_set_bit(0, &wdt_open))
 		return -EBUSY;
-	it8712f_wdt_enable();
+
+	ret = it8712f_wdt_enable();
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 	return nonseekable_open(inode, file);
 }
 
@@ -313,7 +335,8 @@
 			": watchdog device closed unexpectedly, will not"
 			" disable the watchdog timer\n");
 	} else if (!nowayout) {
-		it8712f_wdt_disable();
+		if (it8712f_wdt_disable())
+			printk(KERN_WARNING NAME "Watchdog disable failed\n");
 	}
 	expect_close = 0;
 	clear_bit(0, &wdt_open);
@@ -340,8 +363,10 @@
 {
 	int err = -ENODEV;
 	int chip_type;
+	int ret = superio_enter();
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
-	superio_enter();
 	chip_type = superio_inw(DEVID);
 	if (chip_type != IT8712F_DEVID)
 		goto exit;
@@ -382,8 +407,6 @@
 {
 	int err = 0;
 
-	spin_lock_init(&io_lock);
-
 	if (it8712f_wdt_find(&address))
 		return -ENODEV;
 
@@ -392,7 +415,11 @@
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}
 
-	it8712f_wdt_disable();
+	err = it8712f_wdt_disable();
+	if (err) {
+		printk(KERN_ERR NAME ": unable to disable watchdog timer.\n");
+		goto out;
+	}
 
 	err = register_reboot_notifier(&it8712f_wdt_notifier);
 	if (err) {
diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/it87_wdt.c b/drivers/watchdog/it87_wdt.c
index b1bc72f..a2d9a12 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/it87_wdt.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/it87_wdt.c
@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@
 
 static	unsigned int base, gpact, ciract, max_units, chip_type;
 static	unsigned long wdt_status;
-static	DEFINE_SPINLOCK(spinlock);
 
 static	int nogameport = DEFAULT_NOGAMEPORT;
 static	int exclusive  = DEFAULT_EXCLUSIVE;
@@ -163,18 +162,26 @@
 
 /* Superio Chip */
 
-static inline void superio_enter(void)
+static inline int superio_enter(void)
 {
+	/*
+	 * Try to reserve REG and REG + 1 for exclusive access.
+	 */
+	if (!request_muxed_region(REG, 2, WATCHDOG_NAME))
+		return -EBUSY;
+
 	outb(0x87, REG);
 	outb(0x01, REG);
 	outb(0x55, REG);
 	outb(0x55, REG);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static inline void superio_exit(void)
 {
 	outb(0x02, REG);
 	outb(0x02, VAL);
+	release_region(REG, 2);
 }
 
 static inline void superio_select(int ldn)
@@ -255,12 +262,11 @@
 	set_bit(WDTS_KEEPALIVE, &wdt_status);
 }
 
-static void wdt_start(void)
+static int wdt_start(void)
 {
-	unsigned long flags;
-
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
-	superio_enter();
+	int ret = superio_enter();
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
 	superio_select(GPIO);
 	if (test_bit(WDTS_USE_GP, &wdt_status))
@@ -270,15 +276,15 @@
 	wdt_update_timeout();
 
 	superio_exit();
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
-static void wdt_stop(void)
+static int wdt_stop(void)
 {
-	unsigned long flags;
-
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
-	superio_enter();
+	int ret = superio_enter();
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
 	superio_select(GPIO);
 	superio_outb(0x00, WDTCTRL);
@@ -288,7 +294,7 @@
 		superio_outb(0x00, WDTVALMSB);
 
 	superio_exit();
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -303,8 +309,6 @@
 
 static int wdt_set_timeout(int t)
 {
-	unsigned long flags;
-
 	if (t < 1 || t > max_units * 60)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
@@ -313,14 +317,15 @@
 	else
 		timeout = t;
 
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
 	if (test_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status)) {
-		superio_enter();
+		int ret = superio_enter();
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		superio_select(GPIO);
 		wdt_update_timeout();
 		superio_exit();
 	}
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -339,12 +344,12 @@
 
 static int wdt_get_status(int *status)
 {
-	unsigned long flags;
-
 	*status = 0;
 	if (testmode) {
-		spin_lock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
-		superio_enter();
+		int ret = superio_enter();
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
 		superio_select(GPIO);
 		if (superio_inb(WDTCTRL) & WDT_ZERO) {
 			superio_outb(0x00, WDTCTRL);
@@ -353,7 +358,6 @@
 		}
 
 		superio_exit();
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
 	}
 	if (test_and_clear_bit(WDTS_KEEPALIVE, &wdt_status))
 		*status |= WDIOF_KEEPALIVEPING;
@@ -379,9 +383,17 @@
 	if (exclusive && test_and_set_bit(WDTS_DEV_OPEN, &wdt_status))
 		return -EBUSY;
 	if (!test_and_set_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status)) {
+		int ret;
 		if (nowayout && !test_and_set_bit(WDTS_LOCKED, &wdt_status))
 			__module_get(THIS_MODULE);
-		wdt_start();
+
+		ret = wdt_start();
+		if (ret) {
+			clear_bit(WDTS_LOCKED, &wdt_status);
+			clear_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status);
+			clear_bit(WDTS_DEV_OPEN, &wdt_status);
+			return ret;
+		}
 	}
 	return nonseekable_open(inode, file);
 }
@@ -403,7 +415,16 @@
 {
 	if (test_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status)) {
 		if (test_and_clear_bit(WDTS_EXPECTED, &wdt_status)) {
-			wdt_stop();
+			int ret = wdt_stop();
+			if (ret) {
+				/*
+				 * Stop failed. Just keep the watchdog alive
+				 * and hope nothing bad happens.
+				 */
+				set_bit(WDTS_EXPECTED, &wdt_status);
+				wdt_keepalive();
+				return ret;
+			}
 			clear_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status);
 		} else {
 			wdt_keepalive();
@@ -484,7 +505,9 @@
 				    &ident, sizeof(ident)) ? -EFAULT : 0;
 
 	case WDIOC_GETSTATUS:
-		wdt_get_status(&status);
+		rc = wdt_get_status(&status);
+		if (rc)
+			return rc;
 		return put_user(status, uarg.i);
 
 	case WDIOC_GETBOOTSTATUS:
@@ -500,14 +523,22 @@
 
 		switch (new_options) {
 		case WDIOS_DISABLECARD:
-			if (test_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status))
-				wdt_stop();
+			if (test_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status)) {
+				rc = wdt_stop();
+				if (rc)
+					return rc;
+			}
 			clear_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status);
 			return 0;
 
 		case WDIOS_ENABLECARD:
-			if (!test_and_set_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status))
-				wdt_start();
+			if (!test_and_set_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status)) {
+				rc = wdt_start();
+				if (rc) {
+					clear_bit(WDTS_TIMER_RUN, &wdt_status);
+					return rc;
+				}
+			}
 			return 0;
 
 		default:
@@ -560,16 +591,17 @@
 	int rc = 0;
 	int try_gameport = !nogameport;
 	u8  chip_rev;
-	unsigned long flags;
+	int gp_rreq_fail = 0;
 
 	wdt_status = 0;
 
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
-	superio_enter();
+	rc = superio_enter();
+	if (rc)
+		return rc;
+
 	chip_type = superio_inw(CHIPID);
 	chip_rev  = superio_inb(CHIPREV) & 0x0f;
 	superio_exit();
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
 
 	switch (chip_type) {
 	case IT8702_ID:
@@ -603,8 +635,9 @@
 		return -ENODEV;
 	}
 
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
-	superio_enter();
+	rc = superio_enter();
+	if (rc)
+		return rc;
 
 	superio_select(GPIO);
 	superio_outb(WDT_TOV1, WDTCFG);
@@ -620,21 +653,16 @@
 		}
 		gpact = superio_inb(ACTREG);
 		superio_outb(0x01, ACTREG);
-		superio_exit();
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
 		if (request_region(base, 1, WATCHDOG_NAME))
 			set_bit(WDTS_USE_GP, &wdt_status);
 		else
-			rc = -EIO;
-	} else {
-		superio_exit();
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
+			gp_rreq_fail = 1;
 	}
 
 	/* If we haven't Gameport support, try to get CIR support */
 	if (!test_bit(WDTS_USE_GP, &wdt_status)) {
 		if (!request_region(CIR_BASE, 8, WATCHDOG_NAME)) {
-			if (rc == -EIO)
+			if (gp_rreq_fail)
 				printk(KERN_ERR PFX
 					"I/O Address 0x%04x and 0x%04x"
 					" already in use\n", base, CIR_BASE);
@@ -646,21 +674,16 @@
 			goto err_out;
 		}
 		base = CIR_BASE;
-		spin_lock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
-		superio_enter();
 
 		superio_select(CIR);
 		superio_outw(base, BASEREG);
 		superio_outb(0x00, CIR_ILS);
 		ciract = superio_inb(ACTREG);
 		superio_outb(0x01, ACTREG);
-		if (rc == -EIO) {
+		if (gp_rreq_fail) {
 			superio_select(GAMEPORT);
 			superio_outb(gpact, ACTREG);
 		}
-
-		superio_exit();
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
 	}
 
 	if (timeout < 1 || timeout > max_units * 60) {
@@ -704,6 +727,7 @@
 		"nogameport=%d)\n", chip_type, chip_rev, timeout,
 		nowayout, testmode, exclusive, nogameport);
 
+	superio_exit();
 	return 0;
 
 err_out_reboot:
@@ -711,49 +735,37 @@
 err_out_region:
 	release_region(base, test_bit(WDTS_USE_GP, &wdt_status) ? 1 : 8);
 	if (!test_bit(WDTS_USE_GP, &wdt_status)) {
-		spin_lock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
-		superio_enter();
 		superio_select(CIR);
 		superio_outb(ciract, ACTREG);
-		superio_exit();
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
 	}
 err_out:
 	if (try_gameport) {
-		spin_lock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
-		superio_enter();
 		superio_select(GAMEPORT);
 		superio_outb(gpact, ACTREG);
-		superio_exit();
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
 	}
 
+	superio_exit();
 	return rc;
 }
 
 static void __exit it87_wdt_exit(void)
 {
-	unsigned long flags;
-	int nolock;
-
-	nolock = !spin_trylock_irqsave(&spinlock, flags);
-	superio_enter();
-	superio_select(GPIO);
-	superio_outb(0x00, WDTCTRL);
-	superio_outb(0x00, WDTCFG);
-	superio_outb(0x00, WDTVALLSB);
-	if (max_units > 255)
-		superio_outb(0x00, WDTVALMSB);
-	if (test_bit(WDTS_USE_GP, &wdt_status)) {
-		superio_select(GAMEPORT);
-		superio_outb(gpact, ACTREG);
-	} else {
-		superio_select(CIR);
-		superio_outb(ciract, ACTREG);
+	if (superio_enter() == 0) {
+		superio_select(GPIO);
+		superio_outb(0x00, WDTCTRL);
+		superio_outb(0x00, WDTCFG);
+		superio_outb(0x00, WDTVALLSB);
+		if (max_units > 255)
+			superio_outb(0x00, WDTVALMSB);
+		if (test_bit(WDTS_USE_GP, &wdt_status)) {
+			superio_select(GAMEPORT);
+			superio_outb(gpact, ACTREG);
+		} else {
+			superio_select(CIR);
+			superio_outb(ciract, ACTREG);
+		}
+		superio_exit();
 	}
-	superio_exit();
-	if (!nolock)
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&spinlock, flags);
 
 	misc_deregister(&wdt_miscdev);
 	unregister_reboot_notifier(&wdt_notifier);