diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.h b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.h
index 7e90153091..a20c0c10c5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_frame_helper.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ struct PacketInfo {
       : message_type(type), offset(off), payload_size(size), padding(0) {}
 };
 
-enum class APIError : int {
+enum class APIError : uint16_t {
   OK = 0,
   WOULD_BLOCK = 1001,
   BAD_HANDSHAKE_PACKET_LEN = 1002,