diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
index fbef4b253f..97a7d6fbf6 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.cpp
@@ -428,10 +428,12 @@ void APIServer::on_shutdown() {
 }
 
 #ifdef USE_VOICE_ASSISTANT
-void APIServer::start_voice_assistant() {
+bool APIServer::start_voice_assistant() {
+  bool result = false;
   for (auto &c : this->clients_) {
-    c->request_voice_assistant(true);
+    result |= c->request_voice_assistant(true);
   }
+  return result;
 }
 void APIServer::stop_voice_assistant() {
   for (auto &c : this->clients_) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
index 30103b2e3f..a1bec2802f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_server.h
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class APIServer : public Component, public Controller {
 #endif
 
 #ifdef USE_VOICE_ASSISTANT
-  void start_voice_assistant();
+  bool start_voice_assistant();
   void stop_voice_assistant();
 #endif
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/voice_assistant/voice_assistant.cpp b/esphome/components/voice_assistant/voice_assistant.cpp
index 777bef4edb..e2d5bea90a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/voice_assistant/voice_assistant.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/voice_assistant/voice_assistant.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,10 @@ void VoiceAssistant::start(struct sockaddr_storage *addr, uint16_t port) {
 
 void VoiceAssistant::request_start() {
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Requesting start...");
-  api::global_api_server->start_voice_assistant();
+  if (!api::global_api_server->start_voice_assistant()) {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Could not request start.");
+    this->error_trigger_->trigger("not-connected", "Could not request start.");
+  }
 }
 
 void VoiceAssistant::signal_stop() {