diff --git a/capsulflask/shell_scripts/ip-dhcp-host.sh b/capsulflask/shell_scripts/ip-dhcp-host.sh
index 31c11d7..77363a3 100755
--- a/capsulflask/shell_scripts/ip-dhcp-host.sh
+++ b/capsulflask/shell_scripts/ip-dhcp-host.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,14 @@ ipv4_address="$4"
 if [ "$action" = 'add' ]; then
   printf "trying to delete any existing (probably expired) dhcp associations for $ipv4_address..."
   virsh net-update "$network_name" delete ip-dhcp-host "<host ip='$ipv4_address' />" --live --config || true
+
+  printf "adding $mac_address --> $ipv4_address to $network_name"
+  virsh net-update "$network_name" "$action" ip-dhcp-host "<host mac='$mac_address' ip='$ipv4_address' />" --live --config
+else
+  printf "removing $mac_address and $ipv4_address from $network_name if they exist"
+  virsh net-update "$network_name" "$action" ip-dhcp-host "<host mac='$mac_address' />" --live --config || true
+  virsh net-update "$network_name" "$action" ip-dhcp-host "<host ip='$ipv4_address' />" --live --config || true
 fi
 
-printf "adding $mac_address --> $ipv4_address to $network_name"
-virsh net-update "$network_name" "$action" ip-dhcp-host "<host mac='$mac_address' ip='$ipv4_address' />" --live --config
+
+