diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index baeae98695..05fc223a06 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ void APIConnection::loop() {
       return;
   }
 
-  if (this->try_to_clear_buffer(true)) {
+  if (this->helper_->can_write_without_blocking()) {
     this->deferred_message_queue_.process_queue();
   }