diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py b/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py
index 16a88f39e3..c363f93d06 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py
@@ -150,12 +150,13 @@ def exp_mqtt_message(config):
 
 @coroutine_with_priority(40.0)
 def to_code(config):
+    var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
+    yield cg.register_component(var, config)
+
     cg.add_library('AsyncMqttClient', '0.8.2')
     cg.add_define('USE_MQTT')
     cg.add_global(mqtt_ns.using)
 
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
-
     cg.add(var.set_broker_address(config[CONF_BROKER]))
     cg.add(var.set_broker_port(config[CONF_PORT]))
     cg.add(var.set_username(config[CONF_USERNAME]))
diff --git a/esphome/core/automation.h b/esphome/core/automation.h
index 7f79ab3ccd..ceed28e5b8 100644
--- a/esphome/core/automation.h
+++ b/esphome/core/automation.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class Trigger {
   bool is_running() {
     if (this->automation_parent_ == nullptr)
       return false;
-    return this->automation_parent_.is_running();
+    return this->automation_parent_->is_running();
   }
 
  protected: