diff --git a/esphome/core/application.cpp b/esphome/core/application.cpp
index cd75859880..d1aa461d0e 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/application.cpp
@@ -196,14 +196,15 @@ void Application::process_dump_config_() {
   this->dump_config_at_++;
 }
 
-void HOT Application::feed_wdt(uint32_t time) {
-  static uint32_t last_feed = 0;
+void HOT Application::feed_wdt_slow_(uint32_t time) {
   // Use provided time if available, otherwise get current time
   uint32_t now = time ? time : millis();
-  // Compare in milliseconds (3ms threshold)
-  if (now - last_feed > 3) {
+  // Compare in milliseconds (3ms threshold). The inline wrapper already
+  // performs this check when time != 0; repeat it here for the time == 0
+  // entry and as a safety net.
+  if (now - this->last_wdt_feed_ > 3) {
     arch_feed_wdt();
-    last_feed = now;
+    this->last_wdt_feed_ = now;
 #ifdef USE_STATUS_LED
     if (status_led::global_status_led != nullptr) {
       status_led::global_status_led->call();
diff --git a/esphome/core/application.h b/esphome/core/application.h
index 6b2969b490..923cbfdb03 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.h
+++ b/esphome/core/application.h
@@ -385,7 +385,19 @@ class Application {
 
   void schedule_dump_config() { this->dump_config_at_ = 0; }
 
-  void feed_wdt(uint32_t time = 0);
+  /// Feed the task watchdog. Hot-path inline rate-limit check: callers that
+  /// already have a timestamp in hand pay only a load + sub + branch on the
+  /// common (no-op) path. The actual arch feed + status LED update live in
+  /// feed_wdt_slow_ to keep this small enough to inline freely.
+  ///
+  /// Pass time==0 to request millis() be read for you (low-frequency callers
+  /// only — always takes the slow path).
+  void ESPHOME_ALWAYS_INLINE feed_wdt(uint32_t time = 0) {
+    if (time != 0 && static_cast<uint32_t>(time - this->last_wdt_feed_) <= 3) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this->feed_wdt_slow_(time);
+  }
 
   void reboot();
 
@@ -615,7 +627,10 @@ class Application {
   /// Caller must ensure dump_config_at_ < components_.size().
   void __attribute__((noinline)) process_dump_config_();
 
-  void feed_wdt_arch_();
+  /// Slow path for feed_wdt(): actually calls arch_feed_wdt(), updates
+  /// last_wdt_feed_, and re-dispatches the status LED. Out of line so the
+  /// inline wrapper stays tiny.
+  void feed_wdt_slow_(uint32_t time);
 
   /// Perform a delay while also monitoring socket file descriptors for readiness
 #ifdef USE_HOST
@@ -669,6 +684,7 @@ class Application {
   // 4-byte members
   uint32_t last_loop_{0};
   uint32_t loop_component_start_time_{0};
+  uint32_t last_wdt_feed_{0};  // millis() of most recent arch_feed_wdt(); rate-limits feed_wdt() hot path
 
 #ifdef USE_HOST
   int max_fd_{-1};  // Highest file descriptor number for select()