diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 7413b0c419..a0e0638860 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -699,11 +699,11 @@ void APIConnection::climate_command(const ClimateCommandRequest &msg) {
   if (msg.has_fan_mode)
     call.set_fan_mode(static_cast<climate::ClimateFanMode>(msg.fan_mode));
   if (msg.has_custom_fan_mode)
-    call.set_fan_mode(msg.custom_fan_mode.c_str());
+    call.set_fan_mode(msg.custom_fan_mode);
   if (msg.has_preset)
     call.set_preset(static_cast<climate::ClimatePreset>(msg.preset));
   if (msg.has_custom_preset)
-    call.set_preset(msg.custom_preset.c_str());
+    call.set_preset(msg.custom_preset);
   if (msg.has_swing_mode)
     call.set_swing_mode(static_cast<climate::ClimateSwingMode>(msg.swing_mode));
   call.perform();