diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.cpp
index 398b1d4251..0ad54bbb15 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.cpp
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ void ESP32ImprovComponent::loop() {
           // Set initial state based on whether we have an authorizer
           this->set_state_(this->get_initial_state_(), false);
           this->set_error_(improv::ERROR_NONE);
+          this->should_start_ = false;  // Clear flag after starting
           ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Service started!");
         }
       }
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.h b/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.h
index 989552ea56..8f4cfd7958 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_improv/esp32_improv_component.h
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class ESP32ImprovComponent : public Component, public improv_base::ImprovBase {
   void start();
   void stop();
   bool is_active() const { return this->state_ != improv::STATE_STOPPED; }
+  bool should_start() const { return this->should_start_; }
 
 #ifdef USE_ESP32_IMPROV_STATE_CALLBACK
   void add_on_state_callback(std::function<void(improv::State, improv::Error)> &&callback) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index 598e09e741..cc9dcab919 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -502,7 +502,8 @@ void WiFiComponent::loop() {
 #endif  // USE_WIFI_AP
 
 #ifdef USE_IMPROV
-    if (esp32_improv::global_improv_component != nullptr && !esp32_improv::global_improv_component->is_active()) {
+    if (esp32_improv::global_improv_component != nullptr && !esp32_improv::global_improv_component->is_active() &&
+        !esp32_improv::global_improv_component->should_start()) {
       if (now - this->last_connected_ > esp32_improv::global_improv_component->get_wifi_timeout()) {
         if (this->wifi_mode_(true, {}))
           esp32_improv::global_improv_component->start();