diff --git a/esphome/components/esphome/ota/ota_esphome.cpp b/esphome/components/esphome/ota/ota_esphome.cpp
index dfa637f701..b2ae185687 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esphome/ota/ota_esphome.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esphome/ota/ota_esphome.cpp
@@ -370,12 +370,14 @@ void ESPHomeOTAComponent::handle_data_() {
 
 error:
   this->write_byte_(static_cast<uint8_t>(error_code));
-  this->cleanup_connection_();
 
+  // Abort backend before cleanup - cleanup_connection_() destroys the backend
   if (this->backend_ != nullptr && update_started) {
     this->backend_->abort();
   }
 
+  this->cleanup_connection_();
+
   this->status_momentary_error("err", 5000);
 #ifdef USE_OTA_STATE_LISTENER
   this->notify_state_(ota::OTA_ERROR, 0.0f, static_cast<uint8_t>(error_code));