diff --git a/source/src/cip/cipclass3connection.c b/source/src/cip/cipclass3connection.c
index 578d6d8f4..2a43be6ee 100644
--- a/source/src/cip/cipclass3connection.c
+++ b/source/src/cip/cipclass3connection.c
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ CipError EstablishClass3Connection(
     ConnectionObjectDeepCopy(explicit_connection, connection_object);
 
     ConnectionObjectGeneralConfiguration(explicit_connection);
+    ConnectionObjectSetWatchdogTimeoutAction(
+      explicit_connection,
+      kConnectionObjectWatchdogTimeoutActionAutoDelete);
 
     ConnectionObjectSetInstanceType(explicit_connection,
                                     kConnectionObjectInstanceTypeExplicitMessaging);