diff --git a/src/libsystemd-network/sd-dhcp-client.c b/src/libsystemd-network/sd-dhcp-client.c
index d5f25d5a19..69589c301b 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd-network/sd-dhcp-client.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd-network/sd-dhcp-client.c
@@ -2012,6 +2012,9 @@ int sd_dhcp_client_send_renew(sd_dhcp_client *client) {
         assert_return(client, -EINVAL);
         assert_return(client->fd >= 0, -EINVAL);
 
+        if (IN_SET(client->state, DHCP_STATE_INIT, DHCP_STATE_INIT_REBOOT, DHCP_STATE_STOPPED))
+                return 0;
+
         client->start_delay = 0;
         client->attempt = 1;
         client->state = DHCP_STATE_RENEWING;