diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index d9ce6cd79e..b998ef5929 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ void APIConnection::loop() {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "%s didn't respond to ping request in time. Disconnecting...", this->client_info_.c_str());
     }
   } else if (now - this->last_traffic_ > keepalive) {
+    ESP_LOGVV(TAG, "Sending keepalive PING...");
     this->sent_ping_ = true;
     this->send_ping_request(PingRequest());
   }
@@ -908,7 +909,7 @@ bool APIConnection::send_buffer(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer, uint32_t message_type)
     }
     return false;
   }
-  this->last_traffic_ = millis();
+  // Do not set last_traffic_ on send
   return true;
 }
 void APIConnection::on_unauthenticated_access() {