diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index 075e683bb5..7e245d3e86 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ void WiFiComponent::retry_connect() {
 }
 
 bool WiFiComponent::can_proceed() {
-  if (!this->has_sta() || this->state_ == WIFI_COMPONENT_STATE_DISABLED) {
+  if (!this->has_sta() || this->state_ == WIFI_COMPONENT_STATE_DISABLED || this->ap_setup_) {
     return true;
   }
   return this->is_connected();