diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
index e4e0751e10..fab54eb648 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ bool Scheduler::is_retry_cancelled_locked_(Component *component, NameType name_t
 // name_type determines storage type: STATIC_STRING uses static_name, others use hash_or_id
 void HOT Scheduler::set_timer_common_(Component *component, SchedulerItem::Type type, NameType name_type,
                                       const char *static_name, uint32_t hash_or_id, uint32_t delay,
-                                      std::function<void()> func, bool is_retry, bool skip_cancel) {
+                                      std::function<void()> &&func, bool is_retry, bool skip_cancel) {
   if (delay == SCHEDULER_DONT_RUN) {
     // Still need to cancel existing timer if we have a name/id
     if (!skip_cancel) {
diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.h b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
index ed457b87f6..1ed897a7e4 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.h
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ class Scheduler {
   // Common implementation for both timeout and interval
   // name_type determines storage type: STATIC_STRING uses static_name, others use hash_or_id
   void set_timer_common_(Component *component, SchedulerItem::Type type, NameType name_type, const char *static_name,
-                         uint32_t hash_or_id, uint32_t delay, std::function<void()> func, bool is_retry = false,
+                         uint32_t hash_or_id, uint32_t delay, std::function<void()> &&func, bool is_retry = false,
                          bool skip_cancel = false);
 
   // Common implementation for retry - Remove before 2026.8.0