diff --git a/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.cpp b/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.cpp
index 087a3b1750..7672dc2dcb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.cpp
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ void EthernetComponent::start_connect_() {
   global_eth_component->ipv6_count_ = 0;
 #endif /* USE_NETWORK_IPV6 */
   this->connect_begin_ = millis();
-  this->status_set_warning();
+  this->status_set_warning("waiting for IP configuration");
 
   esp_err_t err;
   err = esp_netif_set_hostname(this->eth_netif_, App.get_name().c_str());
diff --git a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
index 1359e0b7c5..8c40f87879 100644
--- a/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/wifi/wifi_component.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ void WiFiComponent::loop() {
 
     switch (this->state_) {
       case WIFI_COMPONENT_STATE_COOLDOWN: {
-        this->status_set_warning();
+        this->status_set_warning("waiting to reconnect");
         if (millis() - this->action_started_ > 5000) {
           if (this->fast_connect_ || this->retry_hidden_) {
             this->start_connecting(this->sta_[0], false);
@@ -146,13 +146,13 @@ void WiFiComponent::loop() {
         break;
       }
       case WIFI_COMPONENT_STATE_STA_SCANNING: {
-        this->status_set_warning();
+        this->status_set_warning("scanning for networks");
         this->check_scanning_finished();
         break;
       }
       case WIFI_COMPONENT_STATE_STA_CONNECTING:
       case WIFI_COMPONENT_STATE_STA_CONNECTING_2: {
-        this->status_set_warning();
+        this->status_set_warning("associating to network");
         this->check_connecting_finished();
         break;
       }