diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 40c27b224b..7b90d883cc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ void APIConnection::loop() {
           this->last_traffic_ = now;
         }
         // read a packet
-        this->read_message(buffer.data_len, buffer.type, buffer.data);
+        this->read_message_(buffer.data_len, buffer.type, buffer.data);
         if (this->flags_.remove)
           return;
       }
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
index 58e0addf3f..5036899bf6 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnectionBase {
   friend class APIServer;
   friend class ListEntitiesIterator;
   APIConnection(std::unique_ptr<socket::Socket> socket, APIServer *parent);
-  virtual ~APIConnection();
+  ~APIConnection();
 
   void start();
   void loop();
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnectionBase {
  protected:
   // Override read_message here (instead of in APIServerConnectionBase) so the
   // compiler can devirtualize and inline on_* handler calls within this class.
-  void read_message(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const uint8_t *msg_data);
+  void read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const uint8_t *msg_data);
 
   // Auth helpers defined here (not in ProtoService) so the compiler can
   // devirtualize is_connection_setup()/on_no_setup_connection() calls
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
index 58af149fda..d86cf912db 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_pb2_service.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ void APIServerConnectionBase::log_receive_message_(const LogString *name) {
 }
 #endif
 
-void APIConnection::read_message(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const uint8_t *msg_data) {
+void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const uint8_t *msg_data) {
   // Check authentication/connection requirements
   switch (msg_type) {
     case HelloRequest::MESSAGE_TYPE:       // No setup required
diff --git a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
index ff7ef48a84..a8c6c58da6 100755
--- a/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
+++ b/script/api_protobuf/api_protobuf.py
@@ -3055,7 +3055,7 @@ static const char *const TAG = "api.service";
     # can devirtualize and inline the on_* handler calls within the same class.
     # APIConnection declares the override in api_connection.h.
 
-    out = "void APIConnection::read_message(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const uint8_t *msg_data) {\n"
+    out = "void APIConnection::read_message_(uint32_t msg_size, uint32_t msg_type, const uint8_t *msg_data) {\n"
 
     # Auth check block before dispatch switch
     out += "  // Check authentication/connection requirements\n"