diff --git a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
index 84589d540d3..43677ebfdce 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import base64
 import logging
+import pathlib
 
 from esphome import automation
 from esphome.automation import Condition
@@ -458,6 +459,10 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
         # Enable optimized memzero/memcmp in libsodium instead of volatile byte loops
         cg.add_build_flag("-DHAVE_WEAK_SYMBOLS=1")
         cg.add_build_flag("-DHAVE_INLINE_ASM=1")
+        # Compile crypto libraries with -O2 for speed instead of -Os.
+        # Crypto is CPU-bound and benefits significantly from speed optimization.
+        # GCC uses the last -O flag, so appending -O2 overrides the global -Os.
+        _write_crypto_optimize_script()
     else:
         cg.add_define("USE_API_PLAINTEXT")
 
@@ -465,6 +470,17 @@ async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
     cg.add_global(api_ns.using)
 
 
+_CRYPTO_OPTIMIZE_SCRIPT = "crypto_optimize.py"
+
+
+def _write_crypto_optimize_script() -> None:
+    from esphome.helpers import copy_file_if_changed
+
+    script_src = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent / f"{_CRYPTO_OPTIMIZE_SCRIPT}.script"
+    copy_file_if_changed(script_src, CORE.relative_build_path(_CRYPTO_OPTIMIZE_SCRIPT))
+    cg.add_platformio_option("extra_scripts", [f"post:{_CRYPTO_OPTIMIZE_SCRIPT}"])
+
+
 KEY_VALUE_SCHEMA = cv.Schema({cv.string: cv.templatable(cv.string_strict)})
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/crypto_optimize.py.script b/esphome/components/api/crypto_optimize.py.script
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fe693d19117
--- /dev/null
+++ b/esphome/components/api/crypto_optimize.py.script
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Compile crypto libraries with -O2 for speed instead of the default -Os.
+# Crypto is CPU-bound and benefits significantly from speed optimization.
+# GCC uses the last -O flag, so appending -O2 overrides the global -Os
+# for these libraries only.
+Import("env")
+
+for lb in env.GetLibBuilders():
+    if lb.name in ("noise-c", "libsodium"):
+        lb.env.Append(CCFLAGS=["-O2"])