diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
index 1a6e79eb31..03bab24e6c 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ void Scheduler::compact_defer_queue_locked_() {
   // (saves ~156 bytes flash). Erasing from the end is O(1) - no shifting needed.
   this->defer_queue_.erase(this->defer_queue_.begin() + remaining, this->defer_queue_.end());
 }
-void HOT Scheduler::process_defer_queue_slow_path_(uint32_t &now) {
+void HOT Scheduler::process_defer_queue_(uint32_t &now) {
   // Process defer queue to guarantee FIFO execution order for deferred items.
   // Previously, defer() used the heap which gave undefined order for equal timestamps,
   // causing race conditions on multi-core systems (ESP32, BK7200).
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ uint32_t HOT Scheduler::call(uint32_t now) {
   this->snapshot_counters_(snap_defer, snap_add, snap_remove);
 
   if (snap_defer > 0) {
-    this->process_defer_queue_slow_path_(now);
+    this->process_defer_queue_(now);
     // Defer callbacks may set_timeout/set_interval/cancel_*, mutating the
     // other two counters. Re-snapshot.
     this->snapshot_counters_(snap_defer, snap_add, snap_remove);
diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.h b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
index 9a18de5d9e..ab4c1c70cc 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.h
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
@@ -414,17 +414,9 @@ class Scheduler {
 #ifndef ESPHOME_THREAD_SINGLE
   // Process defer queue for FIFO execution of deferred items.
   // IMPORTANT: This method should only be called from the main thread (loop task).
-  // Inlined: the fast path (nothing deferred) is just an atomic load check.
-  inline void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE HOT process_defer_queue_(uint32_t &now) {
-    // Fast path: nothing to process, avoid lock entirely.
-    // Worst case is a one-loop-iteration delay before newly deferred items are processed.
-    if (this->defer_empty_())
-      return;
-    this->process_defer_queue_slow_path_(now);
-  }
-
-  // Slow path for process_defer_queue_() - defined in scheduler.cpp
-  void process_defer_queue_slow_path_(uint32_t &now);
+  // The fast path (nothing deferred) is handled by Scheduler::call()'s snapshot
+  // gate; this is only invoked when the snapshot saw defer_count_ > 0.
+  void process_defer_queue_(uint32_t &now);
 
   // Helper to cleanup defer_queue_ after processing.
   // Keeps the common clear() path inline, outlines the rare compaction to keep