diff --git a/partition/roles/dhcp/tasks/main.yaml b/partition/roles/dhcp/tasks/main.yaml
index 52b26c80..44673dfd 100644
--- a/partition/roles/dhcp/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/partition/roles/dhcp/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -17,11 +17,14 @@
   loop_control:
     label: "{{ item.network }}"
 
-- name: install isc-dhcp-server
-  apt:
-    name:
-    - isc-dhcp-server
-    update_cache : yes
+- name: ensure config directories are present
+  file:
+    path: "{{ item }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: 0755
+  loop:
+    - /etc/dhcp
+    - /etc/default
 
 - name: render dhcpd conf
   template:
@@ -42,11 +45,20 @@
   when: dhcp_static_hosts is defined
   register: _hosts_conf
 
+- name: install isc-dhcp-server
+  apt:
+    name:
+    - isc-dhcp-server
+    update_cache : yes
+
+# we want this task to be run at this point and not at the end of the playbook
+# this is why we don't use a handler here
 - name: restart isc-dhcp-server on config change
   service:
     name: "{{ dhcp_service_name }}"
     enabled: true
     state: restarted
+    daemon-reload: true
   when: _dhcpd_conf is changed or _isc_dhcp_server is changed or _hosts_conf is changed
 
 - name: ensure isc-dhcp-server is running