diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
index 4097df80af..23dd81c866 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_esp_idf.cpp
@@ -716,6 +716,11 @@ const char *get_disconnect_reason_str(uint8_t reason) {
 }
 
 void WiFiComponent::wifi_loop_() {
+  // Fast path: relaxed check avoids acquire fences (4x memw on Xtensa) when queue is empty.
+  // Safe from consumer side — worst case we process events one loop iteration late.
+  if (this->event_queue_.empty_relaxed())
+    return;
+
   uint16_t dropped = this->event_queue_.get_and_reset_dropped_count();
   if (dropped > 0) {
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Dropped %u WiFi events due to buffer overflow", dropped);
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_libretiny.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_libretiny.cpp
index 479030d442..1adfa57332 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_libretiny.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component_libretiny.cpp
@@ -778,7 +778,12 @@ network::IPAddress WiFiComponent::wifi_subnet_mask_() { return {WiFi.subnetMask(
 network::IPAddress WiFiComponent::wifi_gateway_ip_() { return {WiFi.gatewayIP()}; }
 network::IPAddress WiFiComponent::wifi_dns_ip_(int num) { return {WiFi.dnsIP(num)}; }
 void WiFiComponent::wifi_loop_() {
-  // Check for dropped events due to queue overflow
+  // Fast path: skip queue drain when empty.
+  // On LockFreeQueue platforms, relaxed loads avoid memory fences.
+  // On FreeRTOSQueue platforms, this is a lightweight uxQueueMessagesWaiting check.
+  if (this->event_queue_.empty_relaxed())
+    return;
+
   uint16_t dropped = this->event_queue_.get_and_reset_dropped_count();
   if (dropped > 0) {
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Dropped %" PRIu16 " WiFi events due to buffer overflow", dropped);
diff --git a/esphome/core/freertos_queue.h b/esphome/core/freertos_queue.h
index 2f3faf818a..a67718ea12 100644
--- a/esphome/core/freertos_queue.h
+++ b/esphome/core/freertos_queue.h
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ template<class T, uint8_t SIZE> class FreeRTOSQueue {
 
   bool empty() const { return uxQueueMessagesWaiting(this->handle_) == 0; }
 
+  /// Fast empty check — same as empty() for FreeRTOS queues since
+  /// uxQueueMessagesWaiting is already a lightweight read.
+  bool empty_relaxed() const { return this->empty(); }
+
   bool full() const { return uxQueueSpacesAvailable(this->handle_) == 0; }
 
   size_t size() const { return uxQueueMessagesWaiting(this->handle_); }
diff --git a/esphome/core/lock_free_queue.h b/esphome/core/lock_free_queue.h
index 316186ea54..62c3b21fae 100644
--- a/esphome/core/lock_free_queue.h
+++ b/esphome/core/lock_free_queue.h
@@ -118,6 +118,12 @@ template<class T, uint8_t SIZE> class LockFreeQueue {
 
   bool empty() const { return head_.load(std::memory_order_acquire) == tail_.load(std::memory_order_acquire); }
 
+  /// Fast empty check using relaxed loads — no memory fences on Xtensa.
+  /// Safe when called only from the consumer side: head_ is only written by the
+  /// consumer, and tail_ can only advance. Worst case we miss a just-pushed item
+  /// and catch it next loop iteration.
+  bool empty_relaxed() const { return head_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed) == tail_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed); }
+
   bool full() const {
     uint8_t next_tail = next_index(tail_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed));
     return next_tail == head_.load(std::memory_order_acquire);