diff --git a/esphome/__main__.py b/esphome/__main__.py
index 0147a82530..f54fa8e3c6 100644
--- a/esphome/__main__.py
+++ b/esphome/__main__.py
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ def has_mqtt_logging() -> bool:
     if CONF_TOPIC not in log_topic:
         return False
 
-    return log_topic[CONF_LEVEL] != "NONE"
+    return log_topic.get(CONF_LEVEL, None) != "NONE"
 
 
 def has_mqtt() -> bool:
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api.proto b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
index 4c47b67736..fa64649df5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api.proto
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api.proto
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ service APIConnection {
     option (needs_setup_connection) = false;
     option (needs_authentication) = false;
   }
-  rpc connect (ConnectRequest) returns (ConnectResponse) {
+  rpc authenticate (AuthenticationRequest) returns (AuthenticationResponse) {
     option (needs_setup_connection) = false;
     option (needs_authentication) = false;
   }
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ message HelloResponse {
 
 // Message sent at the beginning of each connection to authenticate the client
 // Can only be sent by the client and only at the beginning of the connection
-message ConnectRequest {
+message AuthenticationRequest {
   option (id) = 3;
   option (source) = SOURCE_CLIENT;
   option (no_delay) = true;
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ message ConnectRequest {
 
 // Confirmation of successful connection. After this the connection is available for all traffic.
 // Can only be sent by the server and only at the beginning of the connection
-message ConnectResponse {
+message AuthenticationResponse {
   option (id) = 4;
   option (source) = SOURCE_SERVER;
   option (no_delay) = true;
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 8b9f87fe60..697b02b915 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -1399,14 +1399,14 @@ bool APIConnection::send_hello_response(const HelloRequest &msg) {
   return this->send_message(resp, HelloResponse::MESSAGE_TYPE);
 }
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-bool APIConnection::send_connect_response(const ConnectRequest &msg) {
-  ConnectResponse resp;
+bool APIConnection::send_authenticate_response(const AuthenticationRequest &msg) {
+  AuthenticationResponse resp;
   // bool invalid_password = 1;
   resp.invalid_password = !this->parent_->check_password(msg.password);
   if (!resp.invalid_password) {
     this->complete_authentication_();
   }
-  return this->send_message(resp, ConnectResponse::MESSAGE_TYPE);
+  return this->send_message(resp, AuthenticationResponse::MESSAGE_TYPE);
 }
 #endif  // USE_API_PASSWORD
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
index 5807fb8919..380894a4ff 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnection {
 #endif
   bool send_hello_response(const HelloRequest &msg) override;
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-  bool send_connect_response(const ConnectRequest &msg) override;
+  bool send_authenticate_response(const AuthenticationRequest &msg) override;
 #endif
   bool send_disconnect_response(const DisconnectRequest &msg) override;
   bool send_ping_response(const PingRequest &msg) override;
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
index 80cc59ebe1..58a083ad06 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ void HelloResponse::calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const {
   size.add_length(1, this->name_ref_.size());
 }
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-bool ConnectRequest::decode_length(uint32_t field_id, ProtoLengthDelimited value) {
+bool AuthenticationRequest::decode_length(uint32_t field_id, ProtoLengthDelimited value) {
   switch (field_id) {
     case 1:
       this->password = value.as_string();
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ bool ConnectRequest::decode_length(uint32_t field_id, ProtoLengthDelimited value
   }
   return true;
 }
-void ConnectResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const { buffer.encode_bool(1, this->invalid_password); }
-void ConnectResponse::calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const { size.add_bool(1, this->invalid_password); }
+void AuthenticationResponse::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const { buffer.encode_bool(1, this->invalid_password); }
+void AuthenticationResponse::calculate_size(ProtoSize &size) const { size.add_bool(1, this->invalid_password); }
 #endif
 #ifdef USE_AREAS
 void AreaInfo::encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const {
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
index 97d70ccbc2..d52cb9eab3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2.h
@@ -367,12 +367,12 @@ class HelloResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
  protected:
 };
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-class ConnectRequest final : public ProtoDecodableMessage {
+class AuthenticationRequest final : public ProtoDecodableMessage {
  public:
   static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 3;
   static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 9;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
-  const char *message_name() const override { return "connect_request"; }
+  const char *message_name() const override { return "authentication_request"; }
 #endif
   std::string password{};
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
@@ -382,12 +382,12 @@ class ConnectRequest final : public ProtoDecodableMessage {
  protected:
   bool decode_length(uint32_t field_id, ProtoLengthDelimited value) override;
 };
-class ConnectResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
+class AuthenticationResponse final : public ProtoMessage {
  public:
   static constexpr uint8_t MESSAGE_TYPE = 4;
   static constexpr uint8_t ESTIMATED_SIZE = 2;
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
-  const char *message_name() const override { return "connect_response"; }
+  const char *message_name() const override { return "authentication_response"; }
 #endif
   bool invalid_password{false};
   void encode(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer) const override;
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
index 61fed323ca..d24f9b3fdc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_dump.cpp
@@ -682,8 +682,11 @@ void HelloResponse::dump_to(std::string &out) const {
   dump_field(out, "name", this->name_ref_);
 }
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-void ConnectRequest::dump_to(std::string &out) const { dump_field(out, "password", this->password); }
-void ConnectResponse::dump_to(std::string &out) const { dump_field(out, "invalid_password", this->invalid_password); }
+void AuthenticationRequest::dump_to(std::string &out) const { dump_field(out, "password", this->password); }
+void AuthenticationResponse::dump_to(std::string &out) const {
+  MessageDumpHelper helper(out, "AuthenticationResponse");
+  dump_field(out, "invalid_password", this->invalid_password);
+}
 #endif
 void DisconnectRequest::dump_to(std::string &out) const { out.append("DisconnectRequest {}"); }
 void DisconnectResponse::dump_to(std::string &out) const { out.append("DisconnectResponse {}"); }
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
index 12930fc9cd..4afc66dc44 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
@@ -25,13 +25,13 @@ void APIServerConnectionBase::read_message(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type,
       break;
     }
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-    case ConnectRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
-      ConnectRequest msg;
+    case AuthenticationRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE: {
+      AuthenticationRequest msg;
       msg.decode(msg_data, msg_size);
 #ifdef HAS_PROTO_MESSAGE_DUMP
-      ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "on_connect_request: %s", msg.dump().c_str());
+      ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "on_authentication_request: %s", msg.dump().c_str());
 #endif
-      this->on_connect_request(msg);
+      this->on_authentication_request(msg);
       break;
     }
 #endif
@@ -622,8 +622,8 @@ void APIServerConnection::on_hello_request(const HelloRequest &msg) {
   }
 }
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-void APIServerConnection::on_connect_request(const ConnectRequest &msg) {
-  if (!this->send_connect_response(msg)) {
+void APIServerConnection::on_authentication_request(const AuthenticationRequest &msg) {
+  if (!this->send_authenticate_response(msg)) {
     this->on_fatal_error();
   }
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h
index eee129355d..9379dfee7d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class APIServerConnectionBase : public ProtoService {
   virtual void on_hello_request(const HelloRequest &value){};
 
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-  virtual void on_connect_request(const ConnectRequest &value){};
+  virtual void on_authentication_request(const AuthenticationRequest &value){};
 #endif
 
   virtual void on_disconnect_request(const DisconnectRequest &value){};
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ class APIServerConnection : public APIServerConnectionBase {
  public:
   virtual bool send_hello_response(const HelloRequest &msg) = 0;
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-  virtual bool send_connect_response(const ConnectRequest &msg) = 0;
+  virtual bool send_authenticate_response(const AuthenticationRequest &msg) = 0;
 #endif
   virtual bool send_disconnect_response(const DisconnectRequest &msg) = 0;
   virtual bool send_ping_response(const PingRequest &msg) = 0;
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ class APIServerConnection : public APIServerConnectionBase {
  protected:
   void on_hello_request(const HelloRequest &msg) override;
 #ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
-  void on_connect_request(const ConnectRequest &msg) override;
+  void on_authentication_request(const AuthenticationRequest &msg) override;
 #endif
   void on_disconnect_request(const DisconnectRequest &msg) override;
   void on_ping_request(const PingRequest &msg) override;
diff --git a/esphome/core/string_ref.cpp b/esphome/core/string_ref.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index ce1e33cbb7..0000000000
--- a/esphome/core/string_ref.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-#include "string_ref.h"
-
-namespace esphome {
-
-#ifdef USE_JSON
-
-// NOLINTNEXTLINE(readability-identifier-naming)
-void convertToJson(const StringRef &src, JsonVariant dst) { dst.set(src.c_str()); }
-
-#endif  // USE_JSON
-
-}  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/core/string_ref.h b/esphome/core/string_ref.h
index c4320107e3..efaa17181d 100644
--- a/esphome/core/string_ref.h
+++ b/esphome/core/string_ref.h
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ inline std::string operator+(const StringRef &lhs, const char *rhs) {
 
 #ifdef USE_JSON
 // NOLINTNEXTLINE(readability-identifier-naming)
-void convertToJson(const StringRef &src, JsonVariant dst);
+inline void convertToJson(const StringRef &src, JsonVariant dst) { dst.set(src.c_str()); }
 #endif  // USE_JSON
 
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 4943c48eb0..b7b4a48d7e 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name        = "esphome"
-license     = {text = "MIT"}
+license     = "MIT"
 description = "ESPHome is a system to configure your microcontrollers by simple yet powerful configuration files and control them remotely through Home Automation systems."
 readme      = "README.md"
 authors     = [
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ classifiers = [
     "Environment :: Console",
     "Intended Audience :: Developers",
     "Intended Audience :: End Users/Desktop",
-    "License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License",
     "Programming Language :: C++",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
     "Topic :: Home Automation",
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 296485bdae..e29a926a7c 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ platformio==6.1.18  # When updating platformio, also update /docker/Dockerfile
 esptool==5.0.2
 click==8.1.7
 esphome-dashboard==20250904.0
-aioesphomeapi==40.2.1
+aioesphomeapi==41.1.0
 zeroconf==0.147.2
 puremagic==1.30
 ruamel.yaml==0.18.15 # dashboard_import
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_main.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_main.py
index bfebb44545..fff0b2cd48 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_main.py
@@ -1226,6 +1226,18 @@ def test_has_mqtt_logging_no_log_topic() -> None:
     setup_core(config={})
     assert has_mqtt_logging() is False
 
+    # Setup MQTT config with CONF_LOG_TOPIC but no CONF_LEVEL (regression test for #10771)
+    # This simulates the default configuration created by validate_config in the MQTT component
+    setup_core(
+        config={
+            CONF_MQTT: {
+                CONF_BROKER: "mqtt.local",
+                CONF_LOG_TOPIC: {CONF_TOPIC: "esphome/debug"},
+            }
+        }
+    )
+    assert has_mqtt_logging() is True
+
 
 def test_has_mqtt() -> None:
     """Test has_mqtt function."""