diff --git a/homeassistant/components/imap/coordinator.py b/homeassistant/components/imap/coordinator.py
index 94699ae5dd4..53d24044b53 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/imap/coordinator.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/imap/coordinator.py
@@ -443,23 +443,24 @@ class ImapPushDataUpdateCoordinator(ImapDataUpdateCoordinator):
         _LOGGER.debug("Connected to server %s using IMAP push", entry.data[CONF_SERVER])
         super().__init__(hass, imap_client, entry, None)
         self._push_wait_task: asyncio.Task[None] | None = None
+        self.number_of_messages: int | None = None
 
     async def _async_update_data(self) -> int | None:
         """Update the number of unread emails."""
         await self.async_start()
-        return None
+        return self.number_of_messages
 
     async def async_start(self) -> None:
         """Start coordinator."""
         self._push_wait_task = self.hass.async_create_background_task(
-            self._async_wait_push_loop(), "Wait for IMAP data push", eager_start=False
+            self._async_wait_push_loop(), "Wait for IMAP data push"
         )
 
     async def _async_wait_push_loop(self) -> None:
         """Wait for data push from server."""
         while True:
             try:
-                number_of_messages = await self._async_fetch_number_of_messages()
+                self.number_of_messages = await self._async_fetch_number_of_messages()
             except InvalidAuth as ex:
                 self.auth_errors += 1
                 await self._cleanup()
@@ -489,7 +490,7 @@ class ImapPushDataUpdateCoordinator(ImapDataUpdateCoordinator):
                 continue
             else:
                 self.auth_errors = 0
-                self.async_set_updated_data(number_of_messages)
+                self.async_set_updated_data(self.number_of_messages)
             try:
                 idle: asyncio.Future = await self.imap_client.idle_start()
                 await self.imap_client.wait_server_push()