diff --git a/components/wifi_provisioning/include/wifi_provisioning/scheme_softap.h b/components/wifi_provisioning/include/wifi_provisioning/scheme_softap.h
index 043b14e20..eda48be0f 100644
--- a/components/wifi_provisioning/include/wifi_provisioning/scheme_softap.h
+++ b/components/wifi_provisioning/include/wifi_provisioning/scheme_softap.h
@@ -29,6 +29,19 @@ extern "C" {
  */
 extern const wifi_prov_scheme_t wifi_prov_scheme_softap;
 
+/**
+ *
+ * @brief Provide HTTPD Server handle externally.
+ *
+ * Useful in cases wherein applications need the webserver for some
+ * different operations, and do not want the wifi provisioning component
+ * to start/stop a new instance.
+ *
+ * @note This API should be called before wifi_prov_mgr_start_provisioning()
+ *
+ * @param[in] handle Handle to HTTPD server instance
+ */
+void wifi_prov_scheme_softap_set_httpd_handle(void *handle);
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/components/wifi_provisioning/src/scheme_softap.c b/components/wifi_provisioning/src/scheme_softap.c
index 84262e937..2b0c3c242 100644
--- a/components/wifi_provisioning/src/scheme_softap.c
+++ b/components/wifi_provisioning/src/scheme_softap.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ typedef struct softap_config {
 static const char *TAG = "wifi_prov_scheme_softap";
 
 extern const wifi_prov_scheme_t wifi_prov_scheme_softap;
-
+static void *scheme_softap_prov_httpd_handle;
 static esp_err_t start_wifi_ap(const char *ssid, const char *pass)
 {
     /* Build Wi-Fi configuration for AP mode */
@@ -85,6 +85,11 @@ static esp_err_t prov_start(protocomm_t *pc, void *config)
 
     protocomm_httpd_config_t *httpd_config = &softap_config->httpd_config;
 
+    if (scheme_softap_prov_httpd_handle) {
+        httpd_config->ext_handle_provided = true;
+        httpd_config->data.handle = scheme_softap_prov_httpd_handle;
+    }
+
     /* Start protocomm server on top of HTTP */
     esp_err_t err = protocomm_httpd_start(pc, httpd_config);
     if (err != ESP_OK) {
@@ -186,6 +191,11 @@ static esp_err_t set_config_endpoint(void *config, const char *endpoint_name, ui
     return ESP_OK;
 }
 
+void wifi_prov_scheme_softap_set_httpd_handle(void *handle)
+{
+    scheme_softap_prov_httpd_handle = handle;
+}
+
 const wifi_prov_scheme_t wifi_prov_scheme_softap = {
     .prov_start          = prov_start,
     .prov_stop           = prov_stop,