diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.cpp
index cc887e4db4..7617077a2a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.cpp
@@ -62,10 +62,11 @@ void ESP32BLETracker::on_ota_global_state(ota::OTAState state, float progress, u
     for (auto *client : this->clients_) {
       client->disconnect();
     }
-#endif
 #ifdef USE_ESP32_BLE_SOFTWARE_COEXISTENCE
-    // The OTA transfer blocks the main loop, so the revert in loop() cannot run.
+    // The OTA transfer blocks the main loop, so the revert in loop() cannot run. No
+    // active-connection gate here: every client was just told to disconnect.
     this->update_coex_preference_(false);
+#endif
 #endif
   } else if ((state == ota::OTA_ERROR || state == ota::OTA_ABORT) && this->scan_continuous_before_ota_) {
     this->scan_continuous_before_ota_ = false;