diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index 09f883ed617..aa4e691cd09 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -269,11 +269,11 @@ bool CompactString::operator==(const StringRef &other) const {
 /// │                              │                                       │
 /// │               ┌──────────────┼──────────────┐                        │
 /// │               ↓              ↓              ↓                        │
-/// │         scan error    no better AP    +10 dB better AP               │
+/// │         disconnect    no better AP    +10 dB better AP               │
 /// │               │              │              │                        │
 /// │               ↓              ↓              ↓                        │
 /// │    ┌──────────────────────────────┐  ┌──────────────────────────┐    │
-/// │    │  → IDLE                      │  │        CONNECTING        │    │
+/// │    │  → RECONNECTING              │  │        CONNECTING        │    │
 /// │    │  (counter preserved)         │  │  (process_roaming_scan_) │    │
 /// │    └──────────────────────────────┘  └────────────┬─────────────┘    │
 /// │                                                  │                   │
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ bool CompactString::operator==(const StringRef &other) const {
 /// │  Key behaviors:                                                      │
 /// │  - After 3 checks: attempts >= 3, stop checking                      │
 /// │  - Non-roaming disconnect: clear_roaming_state_() resets counter     │
-/// │  - Scan error (SCANNING→IDLE): counter preserved                     │
+/// │  - Disconnect during scan (SCANNING→RECONNECTING): counter preserved  │
 /// │  - Roaming success (CONNECTING→IDLE): counter reset (can roam again) │
 /// │  - Roaming fail (RECONNECTING→IDLE): counter preserved (ping-pong)   │
 /// └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
@@ -2075,9 +2075,10 @@ void WiFiComponent::retry_connect() {
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Roam failed, reconnecting (attempt %u/%u)", this->roaming_attempts_, ROAMING_MAX_ATTEMPTS);
     this->roaming_state_ = RoamingState::RECONNECTING;
   } else if (this->roaming_state_ == RoamingState::SCANNING) {
-    // Roam scan failed (e.g., scan error on ESP8266) - go back to idle, keep counter
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Roam scan failed (attempt %u/%u)", this->roaming_attempts_, ROAMING_MAX_ATTEMPTS);
-    this->roaming_state_ = RoamingState::IDLE;
+    // Disconnected during roam scan - transition to RECONNECTING so the attempts
+    // counter is preserved when reconnection succeeds (IDLE would reset it)
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Disconnected during roam scan (attempt %u/%u)", this->roaming_attempts_, ROAMING_MAX_ATTEMPTS);
+    this->roaming_state_ = RoamingState::RECONNECTING;
   } else if (this->roaming_state_ == RoamingState::IDLE) {
     // Not a roaming-triggered reconnect, reset state
     this->clear_roaming_state_();