diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.cpp
index 5d51204cb66..1b9be1007a7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,13 @@ APIError APIFrameHelper::write_raw_(const struct iovec *iov, int iovcnt, uint16_
 
   // If there is already backlogged data, try to drain then queue behind it
   if (!this->overflow_buf_.empty()) {
-    this->overflow_buf_.try_drain(this->socket_.get());
+    ssize_t ret = this->overflow_buf_.try_drain(this->socket_.get());
+    if (ret == -1) {
+      const int sav_errno = errno;
+      HELPER_LOG("Socket write failed with errno %d", sav_errno);
+      if (this->check_socket_write_err_(sav_errno) != APIError::WOULD_BLOCK)
+        return APIError::SOCKET_WRITE_FAILED;
+    }
     // If still backlogged, queue new data behind it; otherwise fall through to direct send
     if (!this->overflow_buf_.empty())
       return this->enqueue_or_fail_(iov, iovcnt, total_write_len, 0);