diff --git a/components/esp_wifi/src/wifi_default.c b/components/esp_wifi/src/wifi_default.c
index 6a687084c403..4d3acdc741a7 100644
--- a/components/esp_wifi/src/wifi_default.c
+++ b/components/esp_wifi/src/wifi_default.c
@@ -465,8 +465,10 @@ esp_err_t esp_netif_create_default_wifi_mesh_netifs(esp_netif_t **p_netif_sta, e
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_netif_attach_wifi_ap(netif_ap));
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_wifi_set_default_wifi_ap_handlers());
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_LWIP_DHCPS
     // ...and stop DHCP server to keep the ESP_NETIF_DHCP_STOPPED state
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_netif_dhcps_stop(netif_ap));
+#endif
 
     // Create "almost" default station, but with un-flagged DHCP client
     memcpy(&netif_cfg, ESP_NETIF_BASE_DEFAULT_WIFI_STA, sizeof(netif_cfg));