diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
index 2793a74c5a..39bffc212d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_client/ble_client_base.cpp
@@ -158,6 +158,11 @@ bool BLEClientBase::gattc_event_handler(esp_gattc_cb_event_t event, esp_gatt_if_
       this->mtu_ = param->cfg_mtu.mtu;
       break;
     }
+    case ESP_GATTC_CONNECT_EVT: {
+      ESP_LOGV(TAG, "[%d] [%s] ESP_GATTC_CONNECT_EVT", this->connection_index_, this->address_str_.c_str());
+      esp_ble_set_encryption(param->connect.remote_bda, ESP_BLE_SEC_ENCRYPT);
+      break;
+    }
     case ESP_GATTC_DISCONNECT_EVT: {
       if (memcmp(param->disconnect.remote_bda, this->remote_bda_, 6) != 0)
         return false;