diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 47171ba50f..81ff11fcd9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -161,6 +161,19 @@ void APIConnection::on_disconnect_response(const DisconnectResponse &value) {
   // pass
 }
 
+DisconnectResponse APIConnection::disconnect(const DisconnectRequest &msg) {
+  // remote initiated disconnect_client
+  // don't close yet, we still need to send the disconnect response
+  // close will happen on next loop
+  ESP_LOGD(TAG, "%s requested disconnected", client_info_.c_str());
+  this->next_close_ = true;
+  DisconnectResponse resp;
+  return resp;
+}
+void APIConnection::on_disconnect_response(const DisconnectResponse &value) {
+  // pass
+}
+
 #ifdef USE_BINARY_SENSOR
 bool APIConnection::send_binary_sensor_state(binary_sensor::BinarySensor *binary_sensor, bool state) {
   if (!this->state_subscription_)