diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32/core.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32/core.cpp
index a6916fe739..f718d16df4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32/core.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32/core.cpp
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ extern "C" __attribute__((weak)) void initArduino() {}
 namespace esphome {
 
 // HAL functions live in hal.cpp. This file keeps only the loop task setup.
-TaskHandle_t loop_task_handle = nullptr;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-static StaticTask_t loop_task_tcb;        // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+static StaticTask_t loop_task_tcb;  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
 static StackType_t
     loop_task_stack[ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE];  // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
 
@@ -40,11 +39,10 @@ extern "C" void app_main() {
   initArduino();
   esp32::setup_preferences();
 #if CONFIG_FREERTOS_UNICORE
-  loop_task_handle = xTaskCreateStatic(loop_task, "loopTask", ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE, nullptr, 1, loop_task_stack,
-                                       &loop_task_tcb);
+  xTaskCreateStatic(loop_task, "loopTask", ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE, nullptr, 1, loop_task_stack, &loop_task_tcb);
 #else
-  loop_task_handle = xTaskCreateStaticPinnedToCore(loop_task, "loopTask", ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE, nullptr, 1,
-                                                   loop_task_stack, &loop_task_tcb, 1);
+  xTaskCreateStaticPinnedToCore(loop_task, "loopTask", ESPHOME_LOOP_TASK_STACK_SIZE, nullptr, 1, loop_task_stack,
+                                &loop_task_tcb, 1);
 #endif
 }