diff --git a/sbin/dhclient/dhclient.c b/sbin/dhclient/dhclient.c
index 2305d973cc3..cd4a41bfa14 100644
--- a/sbin/dhclient/dhclient.c
+++ b/sbin/dhclient/dhclient.c
@@ -511,6 +511,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	setproctitle("%s", ifi->name);
 
+	if (cap_enter() < 0 && errno != ENOSYS)
+		error("can't enter capability mode: %m");
+
 	if (immediate_daemon)
 		go_daemon();