diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_connection.cpp
index d78506e067..5783382e55 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_connection.cpp
@@ -144,6 +144,16 @@ void BluetoothConnection::loop() {
   }
 }
 
+void BluetoothConnection::on_disconnect_timeout_() {
+  // The base class forced IDLE because CLOSE_EVT never arrived. Run the same slot
+  // cleanup the CLOSE_EVT path would have done so the proxy slot is freed, the API
+  // client is notified, and send_service_ is reset for the next connection.
+  if (this->address_ == 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+  this->reset_connection_(ESP_GATT_CONN_TIMEOUT);
+}
+
 void BluetoothConnection::reset_connection_(esp_err_t reason) {
   // Send disconnection notification
   this->proxy_->send_device_connection(this->address_, false, 0, reason);
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_connection.h b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_connection.h
index b50ea2d6a2..c841ff0a24 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_connection.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ class BluetoothConnection final : public esp32_ble_client::BLEClientBase {
  protected:
   friend class BluetoothProxy;
 
+  void on_disconnect_timeout_() override;
+
   bool supports_efficient_uuids_() const;
   void send_service_for_discovery_();
   void reset_connection_(esp_err_t reason);
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
index 7f0f2c624d..434f989be6 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ void BLEClientBase::loop() {
     // never delivered CLOSE_EVT/DISCONNECT_EVT, services would leak without this call.
     this->release_services();
     this->set_idle_();
+    // Notify subclasses so they can release any extra per-connection state (e.g. bluetooth_proxy
+    // slot accounting) that would normally be cleared by the CLOSE_EVT handler.
+    this->on_disconnect_timeout_();
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h
index 8a491a898e..5b17ed9c6b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h
@@ -140,6 +140,10 @@ class BLEClientBase : public espbt::ESPBTClient, public Component {
   void log_gattc_warning_(const char *operation, esp_err_t err);
   void log_connection_params_(const char *param_type);
   void handle_connection_result_(esp_err_t ret);
+  /// Hook called from the DISCONNECTING safety timeout after the base class forces IDLE.
+  /// Subclasses with extra per-connection accounting (e.g. bluetooth_proxy slot state)
+  /// override this to perform the same cleanup the normal CLOSE_EVT path would do.
+  virtual void on_disconnect_timeout_() {}
   /// Transition to IDLE and reset conn_id — call when the connection is fully dead.
   void set_idle_() {
     this->set_state(espbt::ClientState::IDLE);