diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
index 100f3651b66..073341fe79a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
@@ -815,7 +815,10 @@ class WiFiComponent final : public Component {
 #endif /* USE_NETWORK_IPV6 */
   bool error_from_callback_{false};
 #ifdef USE_ESP8266
-  uint8_t sta_state_{0};  // ESP8266WiFiSTAState, defined in wifi_component_esp8266.cpp
+  // ESP8266WiFiSTAState enum, defined in wifi_component_esp8266.cpp.
+  // Written from SDK system context (wifi_event_callback) — uint8_t writes
+  // are atomic on Xtensa LX106 so no synchronization is needed.
+  uint8_t sta_state_{0};
 #endif
   RetryHiddenMode retry_hidden_mode_{RetryHiddenMode::BLIND_RETRY};
   RoamingState roaming_state_{RoamingState::IDLE};