diff --git a/esphome/cpp_helpers.py b/esphome/cpp_helpers.py
index 3c91eafcf4..a1a7d3f516 100644
--- a/esphome/cpp_helpers.py
+++ b/esphome/cpp_helpers.py
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ async def setup_entity(var, config):
     if CONF_ENTITY_CATEGORY in config:
         add(var.set_entity_category(config[CONF_ENTITY_CATEGORY]))
     if CONF_DEVICE_ID in config:
-        parent = await get_variable(config[CONF_DEVICE_ID])
-        add(var.set_device_id(parent.get_id()))
+        device = await get_variable(config[CONF_DEVICE_ID])
+        add(var.set_device_id(device.get_id()))
 
 
 def extract_registry_entry_config(