diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp4461/mcp4461.cpp b/esphome/components/mcp4461/mcp4461.cpp
index 191fbae366..2f2c75e05a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp4461/mcp4461.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp4461/mcp4461.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ uint8_t Mcp4461Component::get_status_register_() {
   uint8_t addr = static_cast<uint8_t>(Mcp4461Addresses::MCP4461_STATUS);
   uint8_t reg = addr | static_cast<uint8_t>(Mcp4461Commands::READ);
   uint16_t buf;
-  if (!this->read_byte_16(reg, &buf)) {
+  if (!this->read_16_(reg, &buf)) {
     this->error_code_ = MCP4461_STATUS_REGISTER_ERROR;
     this->mark_failed();
     return 0;
@@ -148,6 +148,20 @@ void Mcp4461Component::read_status_register_to_log() {
            ((status_register_value >> 3) & 0x01), ((status_register_value >> 2) & 0x01),
            ((status_register_value >> 1) & 0x01), ((status_register_value >> 0) & 0x01));
 }
+bool Mcp4461Component::read_16_(uint8_t address, uint16_t *buf) {
+  // read 16 bits and convert from big endian to host,
+  // Do this as two separate operations to ensure a stop condition between the write and read
+  i2c::ErrorCode err = this->write(&address, 1);
+  if (err != i2c::ERROR_OK) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  err = this->read(reinterpret_cast<uint8_t *>(buf), 2);
+  if (err != i2c::ERROR_OK) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  *buf = convert_big_endian(*buf);
+  return true;
+}
 
 uint8_t Mcp4461Component::get_wiper_address_(uint8_t wiper) {
   uint8_t addr;
@@ -205,7 +219,7 @@ uint16_t Mcp4461Component::read_wiper_level_(uint8_t wiper_idx) {
     }
   }
   uint16_t buf = 0;
-  if (!(this->read_byte_16(reg, &buf))) {
+  if (!(this->read_16_(reg, &buf))) {
     this->error_code_ = MCP4461_STATUS_I2C_ERROR;
     this->status_set_warning();
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Error fetching %swiper %u value", (wiper_idx > 3) ? "nonvolatile " : "", wiper_idx);
@@ -392,7 +406,7 @@ uint8_t Mcp4461Component::get_terminal_register_(Mcp4461TerminalIdx terminal_con
                                                               : static_cast<uint8_t>(Mcp4461Addresses::MCP4461_TCON1);
   reg |= static_cast<uint8_t>(Mcp4461Commands::READ);
   uint16_t buf;
-  if (this->read_byte_16(reg, &buf)) {
+  if (this->read_16_(reg, &buf)) {
     return static_cast<uint8_t>(buf & 0x00ff);
   } else {
     this->error_code_ = MCP4461_STATUS_I2C_ERROR;
@@ -517,7 +531,7 @@ uint16_t Mcp4461Component::get_eeprom_value(Mcp4461EepromLocation location) {
   if (!this->is_eeprom_ready_for_writing_(true)) {
     return 0;
   }
-  if (!this->read_byte_16(reg, &buf)) {
+  if (!this->read_16_(reg, &buf)) {
     this->error_code_ = MCP4461_STATUS_I2C_ERROR;
     this->status_set_warning();
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Error fetching EEPROM location value");
diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp4461/mcp4461.h b/esphome/components/mcp4461/mcp4461.h
index 9b7f60f201..59f6358a56 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp4461/mcp4461.h
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp4461/mcp4461.h
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ class Mcp4461Component : public Component, public i2c::I2CDevice {
 
  protected:
   friend class Mcp4461Wiper;
+  bool read_16_(uint8_t address, uint16_t *buf);
   void update_write_protection_status_();
   uint8_t get_wiper_address_(uint8_t wiper);
   uint16_t read_wiper_level_(uint8_t wiper);