diff --git a/esphome/core/time.cpp b/esphome/core/time.cpp
index 31977d972b..66a0e1c0a7 100644
--- a/esphome/core/time.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/time.cpp
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ void ESPTime::recalc_timestamp_utc(bool use_day_of_year) {
   }
 
   for (int i = 1970; i < this->year; i++)
-    res += (year % 4 == 0) ? 366 : 365;
+    res += (i % 4 == 0) ? 366 : 365;
 
   if (use_day_of_year) {
     res += this->day_of_year - 1;