diff --git a/esphome/components/ble_client/__init__.py b/esphome/components/ble_client/__init__.py
index b679dece9a..9e90d3c236 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ble_client/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/ble_client/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@ from esphome.components.ble_device_base import (
     as_reversed_hex_array,
     bt_uuid,
 )
-from esphome.config_helpers import filter_source_files_from_platform
+from esphome.config_helpers import (
+    filter_source_files_from_platform,
+    frameworks_for_platforms,
+)
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.const import (
     CONF_CHARACTERISTIC_UUID,
@@ -59,12 +62,9 @@ FILTER_SOURCE_FILES = filter_source_files_from_platform(
         },
         # Every framework of every non-esp32 registry platform: a platform
         # that validates the neutral arm must also compile the neutral engine.
-        "ble_client_gatt.cpp": {
-            pf
-            for pf in PlatformFramework
-            if pf.value[0] in bluetooth_connection.GATT_CLIENT_PLATFORMS
-            and pf.value[0] != PLATFORM_ESP32
-        },
+        "ble_client_gatt.cpp": frameworks_for_platforms(
+            set(bluetooth_connection.GATT_CLIENT_PLATFORMS) - {PLATFORM_ESP32}
+        ),
     }
 )
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/ble_client/ble_client_gatt.cpp b/esphome/components/ble_client/ble_client_gatt.cpp
index a0409b1b8a..8da53e0364 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ble_client/ble_client_gatt.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ble_client/ble_client_gatt.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,13 @@ void BLEClient::set_enabled(bool enabled) {
   this->enabled = enabled;
   if (!enabled) {
     this->disconnect();
+    return;
   }
-  // Enabling does not connect: the next sighting does (legacy parity).
+  // A re-enable is an explicit "try again": clear the backoff so the next
+  // sighting connects promptly. Enabling does not itself connect (legacy
+  // parity).
+  this->consecutive_failures_ = 0;
+  this->hold_off_ms_ = 0;
 }
 
 bool BLEClient::parse_device(const ble_device_base::ESPBTDevice &device) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/__init__.py b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/__init__.py
index bd22e13bba..341705f41f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/__init__.py
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@ def _esp32_config_schema() -> cv.All:
                 raise cv.Invalid(
                     "Connections can only be used if the proxy is set to active"
                 )
+            # Explicit entries claim slots like the generated ones; dev
+            # historically skipped this, letting an explicit-connections
+            # config evade the controller budget.
+            bluetooth_connection.consume_gatt_slot(
+                "bluetooth_proxy", len(config[CONF_CONNECTIONS])
+            )(config)
         elif config[CONF_ACTIVE]:
             connection_slots: int = config[CONF_CONNECTION_SLOTS]
             bluetooth_connection.consume_gatt_slot("bluetooth_proxy", connection_slots)(
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/bluetooth_connection/test_slot_ledger.py b/tests/component_tests/bluetooth_connection/test_slot_ledger.py
index 3ba3daeec0..d722a4e165 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/bluetooth_connection/test_slot_ledger.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/bluetooth_connection/test_slot_ledger.py
@@ -9,31 +9,29 @@ from esphome.components import (
     bluetooth_connection,
     bluetooth_proxy,
 )
-from esphome.const import (
-    CONF_MAC_ADDRESS,
-    KEY_CORE,
-    KEY_TARGET_PLATFORM,
-    PLATFORM_RP2,
-    PlatformFramework,
-)
+from esphome.const import CONF_MAC_ADDRESS, PlatformFramework
 from esphome.core import CORE
 
 from ..types import SetCoreConfigCallable
 
 
-def test_gatt_slot_ledger_rejects_overcommit_on_rp2() -> None:
+def test_gatt_slot_ledger_rejects_overcommit_on_rp2(
+    set_core_config: SetCoreConfigCallable,
+) -> None:
     # The cap logic in isolation: two hand charges must trip it.
-    CORE.data.setdefault(KEY_CORE, {})[KEY_TARGET_PLATFORM] = PLATFORM_RP2
+    set_core_config(PlatformFramework.RP2_ARDUINO)
     bluetooth_connection.consume_gatt_slot("bluetooth_proxy")({})
     bluetooth_connection.consume_gatt_slot("ble_client")({})
     with pytest.raises(cv.Invalid, match="supports at most 1 GATT client"):
         bluetooth_connection.FINAL_VALIDATE_SCHEMA({})
 
 
-def test_gatt_slot_ledger_skipped_in_testing_mode() -> None:
+def test_gatt_slot_ledger_skipped_in_testing_mode(
+    set_core_config: SetCoreConfigCallable,
+) -> None:
     # Grouped component builds merge fixtures past the cap; the check defers
     # to testing mode like esp32_ble.validate_connection_slots.
-    CORE.data.setdefault(KEY_CORE, {})[KEY_TARGET_PLATFORM] = PLATFORM_RP2
+    set_core_config(PlatformFramework.RP2_ARDUINO)
     bluetooth_connection.consume_gatt_slot("bluetooth_proxy")({})
     bluetooth_connection.consume_gatt_slot("ble_client")({})
     CORE.testing_mode = True
diff --git a/tests/component_tests/bluetooth_proxy/test_platform_gates.py b/tests/component_tests/bluetooth_proxy/test_platform_gates.py
index 8e8b49b691..02401d9213 100644
--- a/tests/component_tests/bluetooth_proxy/test_platform_gates.py
+++ b/tests/component_tests/bluetooth_proxy/test_platform_gates.py
@@ -179,6 +179,16 @@ def test_rp2_rejects_esp32_only_keys_by_name(
         bluetooth_proxy.CONFIG_SCHEMA({"connections": [{}]})
 
 
+def test_esp32_explicit_connections_claim_gatt_slots(
+    set_core_config: SetCoreConfigCallable,
+) -> None:
+    # Explicit `connections:` entries must charge the slot ledger like the
+    # generated ones; dev historically let them evade the budget.
+    set_core_config(PlatformFramework.ESP32_IDF)
+    bluetooth_proxy.CONFIG_SCHEMA({"active": True, "connections": [{}, {}]})
+    assert "bluetooth_proxy" in bluetooth_connection._ledger().consumers
+
+
 def test_hub_source_filter_covers_every_hub_platform() -> None:
     # bluetooth_connection cannot import this module to derive the hub.cpp
     # framework set, so pin it here: a platform admitted to the proxy but