diff --git a/esphome/core/application.cpp b/esphome/core/application.cpp
index 5a19b0642e..3f9569f724 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/application.cpp
@@ -142,23 +142,15 @@ void Application::loop() {
           }
         }
         this->socket_fds_changed_ = false;
-        // When socket list changes, we need to copy the new base_read_fds_
-        this->read_fds_is_cleared_ = false;
       }
 
-      // Copy base fd_set only if necessary
-      // If read_fds_ is already cleared (all zeros), we can skip the copy
-      // We only need to copy if:
-      // 1. Socket list changed (handled above)
-      // 2. read_fds_ contains set bits from previous select
-      if (!this->read_fds_is_cleared_) {
-        this->read_fds_ = this->base_read_fds_;
-      }
+      // Copy base fd_set before each select
+      this->read_fds_ = this->base_read_fds_;
 
       // Convert delay_time (milliseconds) to timeval
       struct timeval tv;
       tv.tv_sec = delay_time / 1000;
-      tv.tv_usec = (delay_time % 1000) * 1000;
+      tv.tv_usec = (delay_time - tv.tv_sec * 1000) * 1000;
 
       // Call select with timeout
 #if defined(USE_SOCKET_IMPL_LWIP_SOCKETS) || (defined(USE_ESP32) && defined(USE_SOCKET_IMPL_BSD_SOCKETS))
@@ -181,17 +173,11 @@ void Application::loop() {
           ESP_LOGW(TAG, "select() failed with errno %d", errno);
           delay(delay_time);
         }
-        // Error case - assume we need to copy next time
-        this->read_fds_is_cleared_ = false;
       } else if (ret > 0) {
         ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "select() woke early: %d socket(s) ready (saved up to %ums)", ret, delay_time);
-        // Some fds were ready - read_fds_ has set bits, we'll need to copy next time
-        this->read_fds_is_cleared_ = false;
       } else {
         // ret == 0: timeout occurred (normal)
         ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "select() timeout after %ums (no sockets ready)", delay_time);
-        // Timeout clears all bits in read_fds_ - we can skip the copy next time
-        this->read_fds_is_cleared_ = true;
       }
     } else {
       // No sockets registered, use regular delay
diff --git a/esphome/core/application.h b/esphome/core/application.h
index fba1b77238..34fad11584 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.h
+++ b/esphome/core/application.h
@@ -586,9 +586,8 @@ class Application {
   bool socket_fds_changed_{false};  // Flag to rebuild base_read_fds_ when socket_fds_ changes
   int max_fd_{-1};                  // Highest file descriptor number for select()
 #if defined(FD_SETSIZE) && !defined(USE_SOCKET_IMPL_LWIP_TCP)
-  fd_set base_read_fds_{};           // Cached fd_set rebuilt only when socket_fds_ changes
-  fd_set read_fds_{};                // Working fd_set for select(), copied from base_read_fds_
-  bool read_fds_is_cleared_{false};  // True when read_fds_ is already cleared (all zeros)
+  fd_set base_read_fds_{};  // Cached fd_set rebuilt only when socket_fds_ changes
+  fd_set read_fds_{};       // Working fd_set for select(), copied from base_read_fds_
 #endif
 };