diff --git a/components/esp_netif/lwip/esp_netif_lwip.c b/components/esp_netif/lwip/esp_netif_lwip.c
index e656042882..769e32ff8b 100644
--- a/components/esp_netif/lwip/esp_netif_lwip.c
+++ b/components/esp_netif/lwip/esp_netif_lwip.c
@@ -878,6 +878,11 @@ static esp_err_t esp_netif_dhcpc_start_api(esp_netif_api_msg_t *msg)
         return ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
     }
 
+    if (esp_netif->dhcpc_status == ESP_NETIF_DHCP_STARTED) {
+        ESP_LOGD(TAG, "dhcp client already started");
+        return ESP_ERR_ESP_NETIF_DHCP_ALREADY_STARTED;
+    }
+
     struct netif *p_netif = esp_netif->lwip_netif;
 
     esp_netif_reset_ip_info(esp_netif);
@@ -947,6 +952,11 @@ static esp_err_t esp_netif_dhcps_start_api(esp_netif_api_msg_t *msg)
         return ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
     }
 
+    if (esp_netif->dhcps_status == ESP_NETIF_DHCP_STARTED) {
+        ESP_LOGD(TAG, "dhcp server already started");
+        return ESP_ERR_ESP_NETIF_DHCP_ALREADY_STARTED;
+    }
+
     struct netif *p_netif = esp_netif->lwip_netif;
     if (p_netif != NULL && netif_is_up(p_netif)) {
         esp_netif_ip_info_t *default_ip = esp_netif->ip_info;