diff --git a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
index 15b61e9015..34474220ca 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
@@ -294,17 +294,16 @@ def _consume_api_sockets(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
     return config
 
 
-def _validate_outgoing_connection_platform(value: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
+def _validate_outgoing_connection(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
+    if CONF_OUTGOING_CONNECTION not in config:
+        return config
     if CORE.is_esp8266 or CORE.is_rp2:
         raise cv.Invalid(
             "outgoing_connection is not supported on this platform because its "
-            "socket layer cannot make outgoing connections"
+            "socket layer cannot make outgoing connections",
+            path=[CONF_OUTGOING_CONNECTION],
         )
-    return value
-
-
-def _validate_outgoing_connection(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
-    if CONF_OUTGOING_CONNECTION in config and CONF_ENCRYPTION not in config:
+    if CONF_ENCRYPTION not in config:
         raise cv.Invalid(
             "outgoing_connection requires 'encryption' so the peer is verified by key",
             path=[CONF_OUTGOING_CONNECTION],
@@ -312,17 +311,12 @@ def _validate_outgoing_connection(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
     return config
 
 
-OUTGOING_CONNECTION_SCHEMA = cv.All(
-    cv.Schema(
-        {
-            cv.Optional(CONF_HOST): cv.ipaddress,
-            cv.Optional(CONF_PORT, default=6054): cv.port,
-            cv.Optional(
-                CONF_DELAY, default="60s"
-            ): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
-        }
-    ),
-    _validate_outgoing_connection_platform,
+OUTGOING_CONNECTION_SCHEMA = cv.Schema(
+    {
+        cv.Optional(CONF_HOST): cv.ipaddress,
+        cv.Optional(CONF_PORT, default=6054): cv.port,
+        cv.Optional(CONF_DELAY, default="60s"): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
+    }
 )
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 11c87ef056..0452400b50 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -1784,9 +1784,6 @@ void APIConnection::complete_authentication_() {
     zwave_proxy::global_zwave_proxy->api_connection_authenticated(this);
   }
 #endif
-#ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
-  this->parent_->on_client_authenticated();
-#endif
 }
 
 bool APIConnection::send_hello_response_(const HelloRequest &msg) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
index e8f8375aae..f36315cbfa 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
@@ -376,11 +376,18 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnectionBase {
   }
 
 #ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
-  /// Outgoing connection: the noise helper sends its server hello
-  /// first so the peer can pick the matching key. Outgoing connections are only
-  /// dialed when a PSK is set, so the helper is always the noise helper.
-  /// Must be called before start().
-  void mark_outgoing() { static_cast<APINoiseFrameHelper *>(this->helper_.get())->set_server_hello_first(); }
+  /// Outgoing connection: send our server hello immediately so the peer can
+  /// pick the matching key. Outgoing connections are only dialed when a PSK
+  /// is set, so the helper is always the noise helper. Call after start().
+  void mark_outgoing() {
+    if (this->flags_.remove) {
+      return;  // start() failed; the connection is already being torn down
+    }
+    APIError err = static_cast<APINoiseFrameHelper *>(this->helper_.get())->send_server_hello_first();
+    if (err != APIError::OK) {
+      this->fatal_error_with_log_(LOG_STR("Server hello failed"), err);
+    }
+  }
 #endif
 
  protected:
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_noise.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_noise.cpp
index ea8787e5d7..84548a3077 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_noise.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_noise.cpp
@@ -61,13 +61,6 @@ static constexpr size_t API_MAX_LOG_BYTES = 168;
 
 /// Initialize the frame helper, returns OK if successful.
 APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::init() {
-#ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
-  // Outgoing mode is marked in state_; restore what init_common_() expects
-  const bool outgoing = this->state_ == State::CLIENT_HELLO_OUTGOING;
-  if (outgoing) {
-    this->state_ = State::INITIALIZE;
-  }
-#endif
   APIError err = init_common_();
   if (err != APIError::OK) {
     return err;
@@ -86,15 +79,15 @@ APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::init() {
 #endif
 
   state_ = State::CLIENT_HELLO;
-#ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
-  if (outgoing) {
-    // The peer needs our name and MAC to pick the key before its first message
-    state_ = State::CLIENT_HELLO_OUTGOING;
-    return this->send_server_hello_frame_();
-  }
-#endif
   return APIError::OK;
 }
+#ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
+APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::send_server_hello_first() {
+  // The peer needs our name and MAC to pick the key before its first message
+  this->state_ = State::CLIENT_HELLO_OUTGOING;
+  return this->send_server_hello_frame_();
+}
+#endif
 #ifdef USE_API_PLAINTEXT
 APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::init_from_handoff(const uint8_t *header, uint8_t header_len) {
   APIError err = this->init();
@@ -304,12 +297,8 @@ APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::state_action_client_hello_() {
 
 #ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
   if (this->state_ == State::CLIENT_HELLO_OUTGOING) {
-    // Server hello already went out in init()
-    aerr = init_handshake_();
-    if (aerr != APIError::OK)
-      return aerr;
-    state_ = State::HANDSHAKE;
-    return APIError::OK;
+    // Server hello already went out at handoff
+    return this->start_handshake_();
   }
 #endif
   state_ = State::SERVER_HELLO;
@@ -345,12 +334,12 @@ APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::state_action_server_hello_() {
   APIError aerr = this->send_server_hello_frame_();
   if (aerr != APIError::OK)
     return aerr;
-
-  // start handshake
-  aerr = init_handshake_();
+  return this->start_handshake_();
+}
+APIError APINoiseFrameHelper::start_handshake_() {
+  APIError aerr = init_handshake_();
   if (aerr != APIError::OK)
     return aerr;
-
   state_ = State::HANDSHAKE;
   return APIError::OK;
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_noise.h b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_noise.h
index 30b6361770..a807d6e5da 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_noise.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_noise.h
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ class APINoiseFrameHelper final : public APIFrameHelper {
   APIError init_from_handoff(const uint8_t *header, uint8_t header_len);
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
-  // init() then sends the server hello first so the peer can pick the key
-  // before its PSK-mixed message. Call before init(); stored in state_ so
-  // the helper does not grow.
-  void set_server_hello_first() { this->state_ = State::CLIENT_HELLO_OUTGOING; }
+  // Send the server hello immediately so the peer can pick the key before
+  // its PSK-mixed message. Call after init(); the mode is tracked in state_
+  // so the helper does not grow.
+  APIError send_server_hello_first();
 #endif
   APIError loop() override;
   APIError read_packet(ReadPacketBuffer *buffer) override;
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class APINoiseFrameHelper final : public APIFrameHelper {
   APIError state_action_client_hello_();
   APIError state_action_server_hello_();
   APIError send_server_hello_frame_();
+  APIError start_handshake_();
   APIError state_action_handshake_();
   APIError state_action_handshake_read_();
   APIError state_action_handshake_write_();
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_outgoing_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_outgoing_connection.cpp
index 42075d380c..1bdf451245 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_outgoing_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_outgoing_connection.cpp
@@ -21,12 +21,20 @@ static const char *const TAG = "api.outgoing";
 void OutgoingConnectionManager::setup() {
 #ifndef API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_HOST
   this->target_pref_ = global_preferences->make_preference<SavedOutgoingTarget>(629847102UL, true);
-  if (this->target_pref_.load(&this->saved_)) {
-    // Defend against a corrupt or truncated preference blob
-    this->saved_.host[socket::SOCKADDR_STR_LEN - 1] = '\0';
-  } else {
-    this->saved_.host[0] = '\0';
+  if (!this->target_pref_.load(&this->saved_)) {
+    this->saved_ = {};
   }
+  // Defend against a corrupt or truncated preference blob
+  this->saved_.host[socket::SOCKADDR_STR_LEN - 1] = '\0';
+#ifndef USE_NETWORK_IPV6
+  if (strchr(this->saved_.host, ':') != nullptr) {
+    // Remembered by an earlier IPv6 build; set_sockaddr() would silently
+    // turn it into 255.255.255.255
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Clearing unusable IPv6 target %s", this->saved_.host);
+    this->saved_ = {};
+    this->target_pref_.save(&this->saved_);
+  }
+#endif
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -43,9 +51,7 @@ void OutgoingConnectionManager::loop(APIServer *server) {
   switch (this->state_) {
     case DialState::DIAL_STATE_IDLE:
       // Target went away; give it the configured delay to reconnect first
-      this->state_ = DialState::DIAL_STATE_WAITING;
-      this->state_ts_ = now;
-      this->wait_ = API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_DELAY;
+      this->schedule_wait_(now, API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_DELAY);
       break;
     case DialState::DIAL_STATE_WAITING:
       if (now - this->state_ts_ >= this->wait_) {
@@ -66,26 +72,19 @@ void OutgoingConnectionManager::try_dial_(APIServer *server, uint32_t now) {
     return;
   }
   const char *host = this->target_host_();
-  if (host == nullptr || server->at_client_limit_() || !server->noise_ctx_.has_psk()) {
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Not dialing: %s",
-             host == nullptr              ? "no target"
-             : server->at_client_limit_() ? "max connections"
-                                          : "no key");
+  if (host == nullptr) {
+    // The steady state until a dial-back client has ever connected
+    ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Not dialing: no target");
+    this->schedule_wait_(now, PRECONDITION_RETRY_MS);
+    return;
+  }
+  const bool at_limit = server->at_client_limit_();
+  if (at_limit || !server->noise_ctx_.has_psk()) {
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Not dialing: %s", at_limit ? "max connections" : "no key");
     // Not a dial failure; retry without escalating the backoff
     this->schedule_wait_(now, PRECONDITION_RETRY_MS);
     return;
   }
-#if !defined(USE_NETWORK_IPV6) && !defined(API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_HOST)
-  if (strchr(host, ':') != nullptr) {
-    // Remembered by an earlier IPv6 build; set_sockaddr() would silently
-    // turn it into 255.255.255.255 here
-    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Clearing unusable IPv6 target %s", host);
-    this->saved_.host[0] = '\0';
-    this->target_pref_.save(&this->saved_);
-    this->schedule_wait_(now, PRECONDITION_RETRY_MS);
-    return;
-  }
-#endif
   struct sockaddr_storage addr;
   socklen_t addr_len =
       socket::set_sockaddr((struct sockaddr *) &addr, sizeof(addr), host, API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_PORT);
@@ -104,13 +103,7 @@ void OutgoingConnectionManager::try_dial_(APIServer *server, uint32_t now) {
   int err = this->dial_socket_->connect((struct sockaddr *) &addr, addr_len);
   if (err == 0) {
     // Immediate success (possible for localhost)
-    this->dialed_conn_ = server->add_outgoing_client_(std::move(this->dial_socket_));
-    if (this->dialed_conn_ == nullptr) {
-      this->schedule_retry_(now);
-    } else {
-      this->dial_handoff_ts_ = now;
-      this->schedule_wait_(now, PRECONDITION_RETRY_MS);
-    }
+    this->handoff_(server, now);
     return;
   }
   if (errno != EINPROGRESS) {
@@ -134,8 +127,8 @@ void OutgoingConnectionManager::poll_connect_(APIServer *server, uint32_t now) {
   }
   this->last_poll_ = now;
   int fd = this->dial_socket_->get_fd();
-  if (fd < 0 || fd >= FD_SETSIZE) {
-    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Bad fd for connect poll: %d", fd);
+  if (fd >= FD_SETSIZE) {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "fd %d out of select range", fd);
     this->schedule_retry_(now);
     return;
   }
@@ -171,35 +164,42 @@ void OutgoingConnectionManager::poll_connect_(APIServer *server, uint32_t now) {
     this->schedule_retry_(now);
     return;
   }
+  this->handoff_(server, now);
+}
+
+void OutgoingConnectionManager::handoff_(APIServer *server, uint32_t now) {
   this->dialed_conn_ = server->add_outgoing_client_(std::move(this->dial_socket_));
   if (this->dialed_conn_ == nullptr) {
     this->schedule_retry_(now);
     return;
   }
-  this->dial_handoff_ts_ = now;
-  // Hold unescalated until the peer proves itself or dies unproven
-  this->schedule_wait_(now, PRECONDITION_RETRY_MS);
+  // Connected; dialed_conn_ gates further dialing until the session settles
+  this->state_ = DialState::DIAL_STATE_IDLE;
 }
 
-void OutgoingConnectionManager::schedule_retry_(uint32_t now) {
+void OutgoingConnectionManager::schedule_wait_(uint32_t now, uint32_t wait) {
   this->dial_socket_.reset();  // no-op when the socket was handed off
   this->state_ = DialState::DIAL_STATE_WAITING;
   this->state_ts_ = now;
+  this->wait_ = wait;
+}
+
+void OutgoingConnectionManager::schedule_retry_(uint32_t now) {
   // +/-20% jitter so a fleet of devices does not retry one server in lockstep
   const uint32_t jitter_span = this->backoff_ / 5;
-  this->wait_ = this->backoff_ - jitter_span + (random_uint32() % (2 * jitter_span + 1));
+  this->schedule_wait_(now, this->backoff_ - jitter_span + (random_uint32() % (2 * jitter_span + 1)));
   this->backoff_ = std::min(this->backoff_ * 2, BACKOFF_MAX_MS);
 }
 
-void OutgoingConnectionManager::on_client_removed(APIConnection *conn) {
+void OutgoingConnectionManager::on_client_removed(APIConnection *conn, bool was_authenticated) {
   if (conn != this->dialed_conn_) {
     return;
   }
   this->dialed_conn_ = nullptr;
   const uint32_t now = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
-  if (now - this->dial_handoff_ts_ >= DIAL_PROVEN_MS) {
-    // Outlived the handshake timeout, so it authenticated: a working peer
-    // (e.g. a host: target that never sends the flag) disconnected normally
+  if (was_authenticated) {
+    // A working peer (e.g. a host: target that never sends the flag)
+    // disconnected normally
     this->backoff_ = BACKOFF_MIN_MS;
     this->schedule_wait_(now, API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_DELAY);
   } else {
@@ -238,16 +238,15 @@ void OutgoingConnectionManager::on_target_client(APIConnection *conn) {
 }
 
 void OutgoingConnectionManager::dump_config() const {
-  ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Outgoing connection port: %u", API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_PORT);
 #ifdef API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_HOST
-  ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Outgoing connection host: %s", API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_HOST);
+  const char *host = API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_HOST;
 #else
-  if (this->saved_.host[0] != '\0') {
-    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Outgoing connection host: %s (remembered)", this->saved_.host);
-  } else {
-    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Outgoing connection host: none remembered yet");
-  }
+  const char *host = this->saved_.host[0] != '\0' ? this->saved_.host : "none remembered yet";
 #endif
+  ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG,
+                "  Outgoing connection port: %u\n"
+                "  Outgoing connection host: %s",
+                API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_PORT, host);
 }
 
 }  // namespace esphome::api
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_outgoing_connection.h b/esphome/components/api/api_outgoing_connection.h
index 83f6cdc847..10d418b691 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_outgoing_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_outgoing_connection.h
@@ -35,12 +35,9 @@ class OutgoingConnectionManager {
   void loop(APIServer *server);
   /// A key-verified client declared itself a dial-back target; last one wins
   void on_target_client(APIConnection *conn);
-  /// Clears the dialed-connection gate; dying unproven escalates the backoff
-  void on_client_removed(APIConnection *conn);
-  void on_shutdown() {
-    this->dial_socket_.reset();
-    this->state_ = DialState::DIAL_STATE_IDLE;
-  }
+  /// Clears the dialed-connection gate; dying unauthenticated escalates the backoff
+  void on_client_removed(APIConnection *conn, bool was_authenticated);
+  void on_shutdown() { this->dial_socket_.reset(); }
   void dump_config() const;
 
  protected:
@@ -55,21 +52,23 @@ class OutgoingConnectionManager {
   static constexpr uint32_t CONNECT_TIMEOUT_MS = 10000;
   static constexpr uint32_t CONNECT_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 250;
   static constexpr uint32_t NETWORK_RETRY_MS = 500;
-  // Longer than the 60s handshake timeout: a dialed session still alive past
-  // this authenticated, so its death is a normal disconnect, not a bad dial
-  static constexpr uint32_t DIAL_PROVEN_MS = 65000;
+  static constexpr uint32_t PRECONDITION_RETRY_MS = 5000;
+  // Boot waits for the client to connect in first; a deep sleep wake window
+  // is short, so connecting out immediately is the wake state
+#ifdef USE_DEEP_SLEEP
+  static constexpr uint32_t BOOT_WAIT_MS = 0;
+#else
+  static constexpr uint32_t BOOT_WAIT_MS = API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_DELAY;
+#endif
 
   void try_dial_(APIServer *server, uint32_t now);
   void poll_connect_(APIServer *server, uint32_t now);
+  // Hand the connected socket to the server and gate on the new connection
+  void handoff_(APIServer *server, uint32_t now);
   // Close any half-open dial and wait a jittered backoff before retrying
   void schedule_retry_(uint32_t now);
   // Wait without escalating the backoff (used for unmet preconditions)
-  void schedule_wait_(uint32_t now, uint32_t wait) {
-    this->dial_socket_.reset();
-    this->state_ = DialState::DIAL_STATE_WAITING;
-    this->state_ts_ = now;
-    this->wait_ = wait;
-  }
+  void schedule_wait_(uint32_t now, uint32_t wait);
   const char *target_host_() const {
 #ifdef API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_HOST
     return API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_HOST;
@@ -77,7 +76,6 @@ class OutgoingConnectionManager {
     return this->saved_.host[0] != '\0' ? this->saved_.host : nullptr;
 #endif
   }
-  static constexpr uint32_t PRECONDITION_RETRY_MS = 5000;
 
   // Pointers first (4 bytes each on 32-bit)
   std::unique_ptr<socket::Socket> dial_socket_;
@@ -89,16 +87,9 @@ class OutgoingConnectionManager {
 
   // 4-byte types
   uint32_t backoff_{BACKOFF_MIN_MS};
-  // Boot waits for the client to connect in first; a deep sleep wake window
-  // is short, so connecting out immediately is the wake state
-#ifdef USE_DEEP_SLEEP
-  uint32_t wait_{0};
-#else
-  uint32_t wait_{API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_DELAY};
-#endif
+  uint32_t wait_{BOOT_WAIT_MS};
   uint32_t state_ts_{0};
   uint32_t last_poll_{0};
-  uint32_t dial_handoff_ts_{0};
 
   // Byte-aligned types last
 #ifndef API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION_HOST
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
index d5b46e6640..cc95966694 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
@@ -212,13 +212,13 @@ void APIServer::remove_client_(uint8_t client_index) {
   std::string client_peername(client->get_peername_to(peername_buf));
 #endif
 
+  // Read before the swap-and-reset below destroys the connection
+  const bool was_authenticated = client->is_authenticated();
 #ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
   if (client->flags_.outgoing_connection_target) {
     this->outgoing_target_count_--;
   }
-  this->outgoing_conn_.on_client_removed(client.get());
-  // Read before the swap-and-reset below destroys the connection
-  const bool was_authenticated = client->is_authenticated();
+  this->outgoing_conn_.on_client_removed(client.get(), was_authenticated);
 #endif
 
   // Close socket now (was deferred from on_fatal_error to allow getpeername)
@@ -241,12 +241,12 @@ void APIServer::remove_client_(uint8_t client_index) {
   // (suppressed while provisioning is pending - see loop()).
   if (this->api_connection_count_ == 0 && this->reboot_timeout_ != 0 && !this->provisioning_pending_()) {
     this->status_set_warning(LOG_STR("waiting for client connection"));
-#ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
-    // An unauthenticated session (e.g. a dial to a host that accepts TCP but
-    // never speaks the API) must not keep resetting the reboot watchdog
-    if (was_authenticated)
-#endif
+    // A session that never authenticated (e.g. a port scan, or a dial to a
+    // host that accepts TCP but never speaks the API) must not reset the
+    // reboot watchdog
+    if (was_authenticated) {
       this->last_connected_ = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
+    }
   }
 
 #ifdef USE_API_CLIENT_DISCONNECTED_TRIGGER
@@ -285,10 +285,11 @@ void APIServer::add_client_(APIConnection *conn) {
   this->clients_[this->api_connection_count_++].reset(conn);
   conn->start();
 
-  // First client connected - clear warning and update timestamp
+  // First client connected - clear warning. The reboot watchdog timestamp is
+  // refreshed when an authenticated client is removed (see remove_client_),
+  // never on bare TCP connects.
   if (this->api_connection_count_ == 1 && this->reboot_timeout_ != 0 && !this->provisioning_pending_()) {
     this->status_clear_warning();
-    this->last_connected_ = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
   }
 }
 
@@ -301,21 +302,12 @@ APIConnection *APIServer::add_outgoing_client_(std::unique_ptr<socket::Socket> s
     return nullptr;
   }
   auto *conn = new APIConnection(std::move(sock), this);
+  this->add_client_(conn);
+  // After start(): sends our server hello first so the peer can pick the key
   conn->mark_outgoing();
-  // Unlike add_client_, no watchdog refresh: a dial that never authenticates
-  // must not keep petting the no-client reboot timeout
-  this->clients_[this->api_connection_count_++].reset(conn);
-  conn->start();
   return conn;
 }
 
-void APIServer::on_client_authenticated() {
-  if (this->reboot_timeout_ != 0 && !this->provisioning_pending_()) {
-    this->status_clear_warning();
-    this->last_connected_ = App.get_loop_component_start_time();
-  }
-}
-
 void APIServer::on_outgoing_target_client(APIConnection *conn) {
   this->outgoing_target_count_++;
   this->outgoing_conn_.on_target_client(conn);
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
index 2a7f9bef59..e61645758c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
@@ -85,9 +85,6 @@ class APIServer final : public Component,
 #ifdef USE_API_OUTGOING_CONNECTION
   // Called by APIConnection when a client declares itself a dial-back target in its hello
   void on_outgoing_target_client(APIConnection *conn);
-  // Called by APIConnection on authentication so dialed sessions feed the
-  // reboot watchdog only once they are real
-  void on_client_authenticated();
 #endif
 
   void handle_disconnect(APIConnection *conn);
diff --git a/tests/integration/conftest.py b/tests/integration/conftest.py
index 6777e6cabc..9d66ba61c1 100644
--- a/tests/integration/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/integration/conftest.py
@@ -702,3 +702,11 @@ async def run_compiled(
         )
 
     yield _run_compiled
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def isolated_preferences(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """Point host preferences at a per-test dir so every run starts clean
+    (host preferences otherwise persist to ~/.esphome/prefs, keyed only by
+    device name)."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv("ESPHOME_PREFDIR", str(tmp_path / "prefs"))
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_api_outgoing_connection.py b/tests/integration/test_api_outgoing_connection.py
index a03a2b42ab..d51a9e75c6 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_api_outgoing_connection.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_api_outgoing_connection.py
@@ -30,10 +30,8 @@ HA_CLIENT_INFO = "Home Assistant 2026.8.0"
 HELLO_TARGET_FLAG = b"\x20\x01"
 
 
-@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
-def isolated_preferences(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path) -> None:
-    """Keep host preferences per-test so every run starts with no saved peer."""
-    monkeypatch.setenv("ESPHOME_PREFDIR", str(tmp_path / "prefs"))
+# Every run must start with no saved peer
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.usefixtures("isolated_preferences")
 
 
 def _frame(payload: bytes) -> bytes:
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_api_zero_psk_provisioning.py b/tests/integration/test_api_zero_psk_provisioning.py
index bcea2a2471..d2a8bfa62b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_api_zero_psk_provisioning.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_api_zero_psk_provisioning.py
@@ -24,10 +24,8 @@ NEW_KEY = base64.b64encode(b"n" * 32)
 KEY_ACTIVATION_DELAY = 0.5
 
 
-@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
-def isolated_preferences(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path) -> None:
-    """Keep host preferences per-test so every run starts unprovisioned."""
-    monkeypatch.setenv("ESPHOME_PREFDIR", str(tmp_path / "prefs"))
+# Every run must start unprovisioned
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.usefixtures("isolated_preferences")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_light_initial_state.py b/tests/integration/test_light_initial_state.py
index 657e273fe7..739bd2e42f 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_light_initial_state.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_light_initial_state.py
@@ -10,13 +10,8 @@ import pytest
 from .state_utils import InitialStateHelper, require_entity
 from .types import APIClientConnectedFactory, RunCompiledFunction
 
-
-@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
-def isolated_preferences(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path) -> None:
-    """Keep host preferences per-test so RESTORE_AND_ON never loads a stale value left
-    behind by a previous run (host preferences otherwise persist to ~/.esphome/prefs,
-    keyed only by device name)."""
-    monkeypatch.setenv("ESPHOME_PREFDIR", str(tmp_path / "prefs"))
+# RESTORE_AND_ON must never load a stale value left behind by a previous run
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.usefixtures("isolated_preferences")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio