diff --git a/esphome/components/modem/text_sensor/modem_text_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/modem/text_sensor/modem_text_sensor.cpp
index 4c15609e0e..537902cb0f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modem/text_sensor/modem_text_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/modem/text_sensor/modem_text_sensor.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ void ModemTextSensor::update_network_type_text_sensor_() {
 }
 
 void ModemTextSensor::update_signal_strength_text_sensor_() {
-  if (modem::global_modem_component->modem_ready() && this->network_type_text_sensor_) {
+  if (modem::global_modem_component->modem_ready() && this->signal_strength_text_sensor_) {
     float rssi, ber;
     if (modem::global_modem_component->get_signal_quality(rssi, ber)) {
       std::string bars = get_signal_bars(rssi, false);
diff --git a/esphome/components/modem/text_sensor/modem_text_sensor.h b/esphome/components/modem/text_sensor/modem_text_sensor.h
index 44013a89ce..f78f2ea22e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modem/text_sensor/modem_text_sensor.h
+++ b/esphome/components/modem/text_sensor/modem_text_sensor.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class ModemTextSensor : public PollingComponent {
   // ========== INTERNAL METHODS ==========
   // (In most use cases you won't need these)
 
-  float get_setup_priority() const override { return setup_priority::AFTER_WIFI; }
+  float get_setup_priority() const override { return setup_priority::AFTER_CONNECTION; }
   void setup() override;
   void update() override;
   void dump_config() override {}