diff --git a/package/network/services/dnsmasq/files/dnsmasq.init b/package/network/services/dnsmasq/files/dnsmasq.init
index 1051087e05..9288971426 100644
--- a/package/network/services/dnsmasq/files/dnsmasq.init
+++ b/package/network/services/dnsmasq/files/dnsmasq.init
@@ -110,11 +110,6 @@ dhcp_check() {
 
 	udhcpc -n -q -s /bin/true -t 1 -i "$ifname" >&- && rv=1 || rv=0
 
-	[ $rv -eq 1 ] && \
-		logger -t dnsmasq \
-			"found already running DHCP-server on interface '$ifname'" \
-			"refusing to start, use 'option force 1' to override"
-
 	echo $rv > "$stamp"
 	return $rv
 }
@@ -517,7 +512,12 @@ dhcp_add() {
 
 	#check for an already active dhcp server on the interface, unless 'force' is set
 	config_get_bool force "$cfg" force 0
-	[ $force -gt 0 ] || dhcp_check "$ifname" || return 0
+	[ $force -gt 0 ] || dhcp_check "$ifname" || {
+		logger -t dnsmasq \
+			"found already running DHCP-server on interface '$ifname'" \
+			"refusing to start, use 'option force 1' to override"
+		return 0
+	}
 
 	config_get start "$cfg" start 100
 	config_get limit "$cfg" limit 150