diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
index 740e4259b1..b75784bfbd 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
@@ -503,8 +503,8 @@ void APIServer::on_shutdown() {
   for (auto &c : this->clients_) {
     if (!c->send_message(DisconnectRequest())) {
       // If we can't send the disconnect request directly (tx_buffer full),
-      // schedule it in the batch so it will be sent with the 5ms timer
-      c->schedule_message_(nullptr, &APIConnection::try_send_disconnect_request, DisconnectRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE);
+      // schedule it at the front of the batch so it will be sent with priority
+      c->schedule_message_front_(nullptr, &APIConnection::try_send_disconnect_request, DisconnectRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE);
     }
   }
 }