diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java b/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java
index 9c504fe..311efc8 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@
      */
     private List mNetRequestersPids[];
 
+    private WifiWatchdogService mWifiWatchdogService;
+
     // priority order of the nettrackers
     // (excluding dynamically set mNetworkPreference)
     // TODO - move mNetworkTypePreference into this
@@ -318,6 +320,9 @@
                 mNetTrackers[ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI] = wst;
                 wst.startMonitoring();
 
+                //TODO: as part of WWS refactor, create only when needed
+                mWifiWatchdogService = new WifiWatchdogService(context, wst);
+
                 break;
             case ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE:
                 mNetTrackers[netType] = new MobileDataStateTracker(context, mHandler,