diff --git a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp
index 9d65f30058..7dbbda12c9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ void SafeModeComponent::set_safe_mode_pending(const bool &pending) {
   if (pending && current_rtc != SafeModeComponent::ENTER_SAFE_MODE_MAGIC) {
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Device will enter on next boot");
     this->write_rtc_(SafeModeComponent::ENTER_SAFE_MODE_MAGIC);
-    global_preferences->sync();  // Must persist before potential reboot
   }
 
   if (!pending && current_rtc == SafeModeComponent::ENTER_SAFE_MODE_MAGIC) {
@@ -104,7 +103,6 @@ bool SafeModeComponent::should_enter_safe_mode(uint8_t num_attempts, uint32_t en
   if (rtc_val < num_attempts && !is_manual) {
     // increment counter
     this->write_rtc_(rtc_val + 1);
-    global_preferences->sync();  // Must persist before potential crash
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -131,7 +129,10 @@ bool SafeModeComponent::should_enter_safe_mode(uint8_t num_attempts, uint32_t en
   return true;
 }
 
-void SafeModeComponent::write_rtc_(uint32_t val) { this->rtc_.save(&val); }
+void SafeModeComponent::write_rtc_(uint32_t val) {
+  this->rtc_.save(&val);
+  global_preferences->sync();
+}
 
 uint32_t SafeModeComponent::read_rtc_() {
   uint32_t val;
@@ -140,7 +141,12 @@ uint32_t SafeModeComponent::read_rtc_() {
   return val;
 }
 
-void SafeModeComponent::clean_rtc() { this->write_rtc_(0); }
+void SafeModeComponent::clean_rtc() {
+  // Save without sync - preferences will be written at shutdown or by IntervalSyncer
+  // This avoids blocking the loop for 50+ ms on flash write
+  uint32_t val = 0;
+  this->rtc_.save(&val);
+}
 
 void SafeModeComponent::on_safe_shutdown() {
   if (this->read_rtc_() != SafeModeComponent::ENTER_SAFE_MODE_MAGIC)