diff --git a/esphome/__main__.py b/esphome/__main__.py
index df57cf5ab7..a83cbbfeb1 100644
--- a/esphome/__main__.py
+++ b/esphome/__main__.py
@@ -332,8 +332,8 @@ def upload_program(config, args, host):
         return 1  # Unknown target platform
 
     ota_conf = {}
-    if CONF_OTA in config:
-        for ota_item in config.get(CONF_OTA):
+    if ota := config.get(CONF_OTA):
+        for ota_item in ota:
             if ota_item[CONF_PLATFORM] == CONF_ESPHOME:
                 ota_conf = ota_item
                 break