diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
index 40d57b5c44..191032a4cf 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
@@ -414,7 +414,9 @@ class WiFiComponent : public Component {
   WiFiComponentState state_{WIFI_COMPONENT_STATE_OFF};
   WiFiPowerSaveMode power_save_{WIFI_POWER_SAVE_NONE};
   uint8_t num_retried_{0};
+#ifdef USE_WIFI_FAST_CONNECT
   uint8_t ap_index_{0};
+#endif
 #if USE_NETWORK_IPV6
   uint8_t num_ipv6_addresses_{0};
 #endif /* USE_NETWORK_IPV6 */