diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp
index cc1c178b08..5dfdc06070 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_proxy/bluetooth_proxy.cpp
@@ -209,6 +209,9 @@ void BluetoothProxy::bluetooth_device_request(const api::BluetoothDeviceRequest
   switch (msg.request_type) {
     case api::enums::BLUETOOTH_DEVICE_REQUEST_TYPE_CONNECT: {
       this->address_ = msg.address;
+      this->set_state(espbt::ClientState::SEARCHING);
+      api::global_api_server->send_bluetooth_connections_free(this->get_bluetooth_connections_free(),
+                                                              this->get_bluetooth_connections_limit());
       break;
     }
     case api::enums::BLUETOOTH_DEVICE_REQUEST_TYPE_DISCONNECT: {
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h
index 45abcd63fa..dd08f07fd7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_tracker/esp32_ble_tracker.h
@@ -145,6 +145,8 @@ class ESPBTDeviceListener {
 enum class ClientState {
   // Connection is idle, no device detected.
   IDLE,
+  // Searching for device.
+  SEARCHING,
   // Device advertisement found.
   DISCOVERED,
   // Connection in progress.