diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp
index 456ae25e65..eee5644c9d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_component.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ bool MQTTComponent::send_discovery_() {
         if (node_friendly_name.empty()) {
           node_friendly_name = node_name;
         }
-        const std::string &node_area = App.get_area();
+        std::string node_area = App.get_area();
 
         JsonObject device_info = root.createNestedObject(MQTT_DEVICE);
         const auto mac = get_mac_address();