Techniques are described for providing a backup DHCP server using a DHCP relay agent. Embodiments retrieve DHCP server configuration information specifying a configuration of one or more DHCP servers. Additionally, embodiments monitor, at a DHCP relay agent, DHCP lease traffic between the one or more DHCP servers and one or more DHCP clients passing through the DHCP relay agent. Upon determining that the one or more DHCP servers have failed, DHCP server services are provided at the DHCP relay agent, based on the received DHCP server configuration information and the monitored DHCP lease traffic.