diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_rmt_led_strip/led_strip.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_rmt_led_strip/led_strip.cpp
index f0d0a557d6f..66b41931aac 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_rmt_led_strip/led_strip.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_rmt_led_strip/led_strip.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ void ESP32RMTLEDStripLightOutput::set_led_params(uint32_t bit0_high, uint32_t bi
 void ESP32RMTLEDStripLightOutput::write_state(light::LightState *state) {
   // protect from refreshing too often
   uint32_t now = micros();
-  if (auto rate = this->max_refresh_rate_.value_or(0); rate != 0 && (now - this->last_refresh_) < rate) {
+  auto rate = this->max_refresh_rate_.value_or(0);
+  if (rate != 0 && (now - this->last_refresh_) < rate) {
     // try again next loop iteration, so that this change won't get lost
     this->schedule_show();
     return;