diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
index 1a38b6a83e..6a9969e802 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
@@ -82,8 +82,6 @@ void HOT Scheduler::set_timer_common_(Component *component, SchedulerItem::Type
   item->callback = std::move(func);
   item->remove = false;
 
-  const auto now = this->millis_();
-
 #if !defined(USE_ESP8266) && !defined(USE_RP2040)
   // Special handling for defer() (delay = 0, type = TIMEOUT)
   // ESP8266 and RP2040 are excluded because they don't need thread-safe defer handling
@@ -96,6 +94,8 @@ void HOT Scheduler::set_timer_common_(Component *component, SchedulerItem::Type
   }
 #endif
 
+  const auto now = this->millis_();
+
   // Type-specific setup
   if (type == SchedulerItem::INTERVAL) {
     item->interval = delay;