diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
index 67e30c3634..906113aec3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
@@ -236,11 +236,6 @@ void BLEClientBase::log_warning_(const char *message) {
   ESP_LOGW(TAG, "[%d] [%s] %s", this->connection_index_, this->address_str_, message);
 }
 
-void BLEClientBase::set_idle_() {
-  this->set_state(espbt::ClientState::IDLE);
-  this->conn_id_ = UNSET_CONN_ID;
-}
-
 void BLEClientBase::update_conn_params_(uint16_t min_interval, uint16_t max_interval, uint16_t latency,
                                         uint16_t timeout, const char *param_type) {
   esp_ble_conn_update_params_t conn_params = {{0}};
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h
index 62d6704bba..9b7fc7b5ed 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.h
@@ -138,7 +138,10 @@ class BLEClientBase : public espbt::ESPBTClient, public Component {
   void log_connection_params_(const char *param_type);
   void handle_connection_result_(esp_err_t ret);
   /// Transition to IDLE and reset conn_id — call when the connection is fully dead.
-  void set_idle_();
+  void set_idle_() {
+    this->set_state(espbt::ClientState::IDLE);
+    this->conn_id_ = UNSET_CONN_ID;
+  }
   // Compact error logging helpers to reduce flash usage
   void log_error_(const char *message);
   void log_error_(const char *message, int code);