diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_pico_w.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_pico_w.cpp
index b67d689e3aa..9b2c077dc5e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_pico_w.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_pico_w.cpp
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ static bool s_sta_had_ip = false;         // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-
 static size_t s_scan_result_count = 0;    // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
 
 bool WiFiComponent::wifi_mode_(optional<bool> sta, optional<bool> ap) {
-  if (sta.has_value() && sta.value()) {
-    // Enable STA mode so scanning works before the first beginNoBlock() call.
-    // Without this, cyw43_wifi_scan() fails because the radio isn't initialized.
-    cyw43_arch_enable_sta_mode();
+  if (sta.has_value()) {
+    if (sta.value()) {
+      cyw43_wifi_set_up(&cyw43_state, CYW43_ITF_STA, true, CYW43_COUNTRY_WORLDWIDE);
+    }
   }
 
   bool ap_state = false;