diff --git a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp
index b78a151ee4..1382a87046 100644
--- a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp
@@ -118,21 +118,24 @@ void I2SAudioSpeakerBase::loop() {
         break;
       }
 
+      // Still starting up or winding down from a previous run
+      if ((this->tx_handle_ != nullptr) || (this->speaker_task_handle_ != nullptr)) {
+        break;
+      }
+
       if (this->start_i2s_driver(this->audio_stream_info_) != ESP_OK) {
         ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Driver failed to start; retrying in 1 second");
         this->status_momentary_error("driver-failure", 1000);
         break;
       }
 
-      if (this->speaker_task_handle_ == nullptr) {
-        xTaskCreate(I2SAudioSpeakerBase::speaker_task, "speaker_task", TASK_STACK_SIZE, (void *) this, TASK_PRIORITY,
-                    &this->speaker_task_handle_);
+      xTaskCreate(I2SAudioSpeakerBase::speaker_task, "speaker_task", TASK_STACK_SIZE, (void *) this, TASK_PRIORITY,
+                  &this->speaker_task_handle_);
 
-        if (this->speaker_task_handle_ == nullptr) {
-          ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Task failed to start, retrying in 1 second");
-          this->status_momentary_error("task-failure", 1000);
-          this->stop_i2s_driver_();  // Stops the driver to return the lock; will be reloaded in next attempt
-        }
+      if (this->speaker_task_handle_ == nullptr) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Task failed to start, retrying in 1 second");
+        this->status_momentary_error("task-failure", 1000);
+        this->stop_i2s_driver_();  // Stops the driver to return the lock; will be reloaded in next attempt
       }
       break;
     case speaker::STATE_RUNNING:   // Intentional fallthrough