diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index 264441f329d..5c9210feba0 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -297,6 +297,7 @@ bool CompactString::operator==(const StringRef &other) const {
 /// │  - After 3 checks: attempts >= 3, stop checking                      │
 /// │  - Non-roaming disconnect: clear_roaming_state_() resets counter     │
 /// │  - Disconnect during scan (SCANNING→RECONNECTING): counter preserved  │
+/// │  - Disconnect after scan (within grace period): counter preserved    │
 /// │  - Roaming success (CONNECTING→IDLE): counter reset (can roam again) │
 /// │  - Roaming fail (RECONNECTING→IDLE): counter preserved (ping-pong)   │
 /// └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
@@ -2074,8 +2075,16 @@ void WiFiComponent::retry_connect() {
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Disconnected during roam scan (attempt %u/%u)", this->roaming_attempts_, ROAMING_MAX_ATTEMPTS);
     this->roaming_state_ = RoamingState::RECONNECTING;
   } else if (this->roaming_state_ == RoamingState::IDLE) {
-    // Not a roaming-triggered reconnect, reset state
-    this->clear_roaming_state_();
+    // Check if a roaming scan recently completed - on ESP8266, going off-channel
+    // during scan can cause a delayed Beacon Timeout 8-20 seconds after scan finishes.
+    // Transition to RECONNECTING so the attempts counter is preserved on reconnect.
+    if (this->roaming_scan_end_ != 0 && millis() - this->roaming_scan_end_ < ROAMING_SCAN_GRACE_PERIOD) {
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Disconnect after roam scan (attempt %u/%u)", this->roaming_attempts_, ROAMING_MAX_ATTEMPTS);
+      this->roaming_state_ = RoamingState::RECONNECTING;
+    } else {
+      // Not a roaming-triggered reconnect, reset state
+      this->clear_roaming_state_();
+    }
   }
   // RECONNECTING: keep state and counter, still trying to reconnect
 
@@ -2308,6 +2317,7 @@ bool WiFiScanResult::operator==(const WiFiScanResult &rhs) const { return this->
 void WiFiComponent::clear_roaming_state_() {
   this->roaming_attempts_ = 0;
   this->roaming_last_check_ = 0;
+  this->roaming_scan_end_ = 0;
   this->roaming_state_ = RoamingState::IDLE;
 }
 
@@ -2389,6 +2399,9 @@ void WiFiComponent::process_roaming_scan_() {
   this->scan_done_ = false;
   // Default to IDLE - will be set to CONNECTING if we find a better AP
   this->roaming_state_ = RoamingState::IDLE;
+  // Record when scan completed so delayed disconnects (e.g., ESP8266 Beacon Timeout)
+  // can be attributed to the scan and avoid resetting the attempts counter
+  this->roaming_scan_end_ = millis();
 
   // Get current connection info
   int8_t current_rssi = this->wifi_rssi();
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
index 718f4a6e12c..427b1d3a5dc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.h
@@ -779,6 +779,10 @@ class WiFiComponent final : public Component {
   static constexpr int8_t ROAMING_MIN_IMPROVEMENT = 10;              // dB
   static constexpr int8_t ROAMING_GOOD_RSSI = -49;                   // Skip scan if signal is excellent
   static constexpr uint8_t ROAMING_MAX_ATTEMPTS = 3;
+  // Grace period after roaming scan completes. If WiFi disconnects within this
+  // window (e.g., ESP8266 Beacon Timeout caused by going off-channel during scan),
+  // the disconnect is treated as roaming-related and the attempts counter is preserved.
+  static constexpr uint32_t ROAMING_SCAN_GRACE_PERIOD = 30 * 1000;  // 30 seconds
 
   // 4-byte members
   float output_power_{NAN};
@@ -786,6 +790,7 @@ class WiFiComponent final : public Component {
   uint32_t last_connected_{0};
   uint32_t reboot_timeout_{};
   uint32_t roaming_last_check_{0};
+  uint32_t roaming_scan_end_{0};  // Timestamp when last roaming scan completed
 #ifdef USE_WIFI_AP
   uint32_t ap_timeout_{};
 #endif