diff --git a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp
index 5e271e671e..1c2eb12904 100644
--- a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp
@@ -91,7 +91,14 @@ void I2SAudioSpeakerBase::loop() {
     this->speaker_task_handle_ = nullptr;
 
     this->stop_i2s_driver_();
-    xEventGroupClearBits(this->event_group_, SpeakerEventGroupBits::ALL_BITS);
+    // ALL_BITS includes COMMAND_START. Take the bits from the clear itself, not from the snapshot at
+    // the top of loop(): the audio source's task can raise a start at any point above, including
+    // during stop_i2s_driver_(), and nothing would ever re-issue it.
+    const EventBits_t bits_before_clear = xEventGroupClearBits(this->event_group_, SpeakerEventGroupBits::ALL_BITS);
+    if (bits_before_clear & SpeakerEventGroupBits::COMMAND_START) {
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Start requested while stopping; keeping the request");
+      xEventGroupSetBits(this->event_group_, SpeakerEventGroupBits::COMMAND_START);
+    }
     this->status_clear_error();
 
     this->on_task_stopped();