diff --git a/src/dnsmasq.c b/src/dnsmasq.c
index 62a9e59..9c37e5a 100644
--- a/src/dnsmasq.c
+++ b/src/dnsmasq.c
@@ -1777,9 +1777,9 @@ void clear_cache_and_reload(time_t now)
 #ifdef HAVE_DHCP
   if (daemon->dhcp || daemon->doing_dhcp6)
     {
+      reread_dhcp();
       if (option_bool(OPT_ETHERS))
 	dhcp_read_ethers();
-      reread_dhcp();
       dhcp_update_configs(daemon->dhcp_conf);
       lease_update_from_configs(); 
       lease_update_file(now);