diff --git a/networking/udhcp/files.c b/networking/udhcp/files.c
index 1c8808c0f..5b90e26d2 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/files.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/files.c
@@ -195,7 +195,11 @@ void FAST_FUNC read_leases(const char *file)
 			uint32_t static_nip;
 
 			if (expires <= 0)
-				continue;
+				/* We keep expired leases: add_lease() will add
+				 * a lease with 0 seconds remaining.
+				 * Fewer IP address changes this way for mass reboot scenario.
+				 */
+				expires = 0;
 
 			/* Check if there is a different static lease for this IP or MAC */
 			static_nip = get_static_nip_by_mac(server_config.static_leases, lease.lease_mac);
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/leases.c b/networking/udhcp/leases.c
index 844bb60b1..411b74962 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/leases.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/leases.c
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ static struct dyn_lease *oldest_expired_lease(void)
 	/* Unexpired leases have g_leases[i].expires >= current time
 	 * and therefore can't ever match */
 	for (i = 0; i < server_config.max_leases; i++) {
-		if (g_leases[i].expires < oldest_time) {
+		if (g_leases[i].expires == 0 /* empty entry */
+		 || g_leases[i].expires < oldest_time
+		) {
 			oldest_time = g_leases[i].expires;
 			oldest_lease = &g_leases[i];
 		}