diff --git a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp
index 2a3fa9f5f3..da25914c87 100644
--- a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.cpp
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ size_t I2SAudioSpeaker::play(const uint8_t *data, size_t length, TickType_t tick
     this->start();
   }
 
-  if ((this->state_ != speaker::STATE_RUNNING) || (this->audio_ring_buffer_.use_count() == 1)) {
+  if ((this->state_ != speaker::STATE_RUNNING) || (this->audio_ring_buffer_.use_count() != 1)) {
     // Unable to write data to a running speaker, so delay the max amount of time so it can get ready
     vTaskDelay(ticks_to_wait);
     ticks_to_wait = 0;