diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index c882d48112..a3e899b32a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -2072,6 +2072,11 @@ void APIConnection::on_fatal_error() {
   this->flags_.remove = true;
 }
 
+bool APIConnection::schedule_message_front_(EntityBase *entity, uint8_t message_type, uint8_t estimated_size) {
+  this->deferred_batch_.add_item_front(entity, message_type, estimated_size);
+  return this->schedule_batch_();
+}
+
 bool APIConnection::send_message_smart_(EntityBase *entity, uint8_t message_type, uint8_t estimated_size,
                                         uint8_t aux_data_index) {
   if (this->should_send_immediately_(message_type) && this->helper_->can_write_without_blocking()) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
index 776b67738c..433b13bf2a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
@@ -797,10 +797,8 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnectionBase {
   }
 
   // Helper function to schedule a high priority message at the front of the batch
-  bool schedule_message_front_(EntityBase *entity, uint8_t message_type, uint8_t estimated_size) {
-    this->deferred_batch_.add_item_front(entity, message_type, estimated_size);
-    return this->schedule_batch_();
-  }
+  // Out-of-line: callers (on_shutdown, check_keepalive_) are cold paths
+  bool schedule_message_front_(EntityBase *entity, uint8_t message_type, uint8_t estimated_size);
 
   // Helper function to log client messages with name and peername
   void log_client_(int level, const LogString *message);