diff --git a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
index b56d4a9eb4..4e121fa404 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ async def to_code(config):
         cg.add(var.set_listen_backlog(config[CONF_LISTEN_BACKLOG]))
     if CONF_MAX_CONNECTIONS in config:
         cg.add(var.set_max_connections(config[CONF_MAX_CONNECTIONS]))
-    cg.add_define("API_MAX_SEND_QUEUE", config.get(CONF_MAX_SEND_QUEUE, 5))
+    cg.add_define("API_MAX_SEND_QUEUE", config[CONF_MAX_SEND_QUEUE])
 
     # Set USE_API_SERVICES if any services are enabled
     if config.get(CONF_ACTIONS) or config[CONF_CUSTOM_SERVICES]: