diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.h b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.h
index e2c870ff69..edc755f0c7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.h
@@ -187,9 +187,9 @@ class APIFrameHelper {
   std::vector<struct iovec> reusable_iovs_;
   std::vector<uint8_t> rx_buf_;
 
-  // Pointer to client info (4 bytes on 32-bit)
-  // Note: The pointed-to ClientInfo object must outlive this APIFrameHelper instance.
-  const ClientInfo *client_info_{nullptr};
+  // Pointer to client name buffer (4 bytes on 32-bit)
+  // Note: The pointed-to buffer must outlive this APIFrameHelper instance.
+  const char *client_name_{nullptr};
 
   // Group smaller types together
   uint16_t rx_buf_len_ = 0;
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_plaintext.h b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_plaintext.h
index bba981d26b..e6bb7262f0 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_plaintext.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper_plaintext.h
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ namespace esphome::api {
 
 class APIPlaintextFrameHelper final : public APIFrameHelper {
  public:
-  APIPlaintextFrameHelper(std::unique_ptr<socket::Socket> socket, const ClientInfo *client_info)
-      : APIFrameHelper(std::move(socket), client_info) {
+  APIPlaintextFrameHelper(std::unique_ptr<socket::Socket> socket, const char *client_name)
+      : APIFrameHelper(std::move(socket), client_name) {
     // Plaintext header structure (worst case):
     // Pos 0: indicator (0x00)
     // Pos 1-3: payload size varint (up to 3 bytes)