diff --git a/sys/dev/e1000/if_em.c b/sys/dev/e1000/if_em.c
index 5df665ae1f6..5f2a4f61430 100644
--- a/sys/dev/e1000/if_em.c
+++ b/sys/dev/e1000/if_em.c
@@ -2224,6 +2224,7 @@ em_xmit(struct adapter *adapter, struct mbuf **m_headp)
 	 */
 	tx_buffer = &adapter->tx_buffer_area[first];
 	tx_buffer->next_eop = last;
+	adapter->watchdog_time = ticks;
 
 	/*
 	 * Advance the Transmit Descriptor Tail (TDT), this tells the E1000
diff --git a/sys/dev/e1000/if_igb.c b/sys/dev/e1000/if_igb.c
index 517521d9844..92ccdaea70a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/e1000/if_igb.c
+++ b/sys/dev/e1000/if_igb.c
@@ -1645,6 +1645,7 @@ igb_xmit(struct tx_ring *txr, struct mbuf **m_headp)
 	 */
 	tx_buffer = &txr->tx_buffers[first];
 	tx_buffer->next_eop = last;
+	txr->watchdog_time = ticks;
 
 	/*
 	 * Advance the Transmit Descriptor Tail (TDT), this tells the E1000