diff --git a/homeassistant/components/dhcp/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/dhcp/__init__.py
index f0de561c76a..d33c6159888 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/dhcp/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/dhcp/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import logging
 import os
 import threading
 
+from scapy.arch.common import compile_filter
 from scapy.config import conf
 from scapy.error import Scapy_Exception
 from scapy.layers.dhcp import DHCP
@@ -217,6 +218,15 @@ class DHCPWatcher(WatcherBase):
                 )
             return
 
+        try:
+            await _async_verify_working_pcap(self.hass, FILTER)
+        except (Scapy_Exception, ImportError) as ex:
+            _LOGGER.error(
+                "Cannot watch for dhcp packets without a functional packet filter: %s",
+                ex,
+            )
+            return
+
         self._sniffer = AsyncSniffer(
             filter=FILTER,
             started_callback=self._started.set,
@@ -285,3 +295,12 @@ def _verify_l2socket_creation_permission():
     # disable scapy promiscuous mode as we do not need it
     conf.sniff_promisc = 0
     conf.L2socket()
+
+
+async def _async_verify_working_pcap(hass, cap_filter):
+    """Verify we can create a packet filter.
+
+    If we cannot create a filter we will be listening for
+    all traffic which is too intensive.
+    """
+    await hass.async_add_executor_job(compile_filter, cap_filter)
diff --git a/tests/components/dhcp/test_init.py b/tests/components/dhcp/test_init.py
index 049128248a7..fc24c8201e2 100644
--- a/tests/components/dhcp/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/components/dhcp/test_init.py
@@ -280,7 +280,11 @@ async def test_setup_and_stop(hass):
     )
     await hass.async_block_till_done()
 
-    with patch("homeassistant.components.dhcp.AsyncSniffer.start") as start_call:
+    with patch("homeassistant.components.dhcp.AsyncSniffer.start") as start_call, patch(
+        "homeassistant.components.dhcp._verify_l2socket_creation_permission",
+    ), patch(
+        "homeassistant.components.dhcp.compile_filter",
+    ):
         hass.bus.async_fire(EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STARTED)
         await hass.async_block_till_done()
 
@@ -325,21 +329,49 @@ async def test_setup_fails_non_root(hass, caplog):
     )
     await hass.async_block_till_done()
 
-    wait_event = threading.Event()
-
     with patch("os.geteuid", return_value=10), patch(
         "homeassistant.components.dhcp._verify_l2socket_creation_permission",
         side_effect=Scapy_Exception,
     ):
         hass.bus.async_fire(EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STARTED)
         await hass.async_block_till_done()
+        hass.bus.async_fire(EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STOP)
+        await hass.async_block_till_done()
 
-    hass.bus.async_fire(EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STOP)
-    await hass.async_block_till_done()
-    wait_event.set()
     assert "Cannot watch for dhcp packets without root or CAP_NET_RAW" in caplog.text
 
 
+async def test_setup_fails_with_broken_libpcap(hass, caplog):
+    """Test we abort if libpcap is missing or broken."""
+
+    assert await async_setup_component(
+        hass,
+        dhcp.DOMAIN,
+        {},
+    )
+    await hass.async_block_till_done()
+
+    with patch(
+        "homeassistant.components.dhcp._verify_l2socket_creation_permission",
+    ), patch(
+        "homeassistant.components.dhcp.compile_filter",
+        side_effect=ImportError,
+    ) as compile_filter, patch(
+        "homeassistant.components.dhcp.AsyncSniffer",
+    ) as async_sniffer:
+        hass.bus.async_fire(EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STARTED)
+        await hass.async_block_till_done()
+        hass.bus.async_fire(EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STOP)
+        await hass.async_block_till_done()
+
+    assert compile_filter.called
+    assert not async_sniffer.called
+    assert (
+        "Cannot watch for dhcp packets without a functional packet filter"
+        in caplog.text
+    )
+
+
 async def test_device_tracker_hostname_and_macaddress_exists_before_start(hass):
     """Test matching based on hostname and macaddress before start."""
     hass.states.async_set(