diff --git a/esphome/components/speaker/media_player/audio_pipeline.cpp b/esphome/components/speaker/media_player/audio_pipeline.cpp
index 60f562cc2c..ac122b6e0c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/speaker/media_player/audio_pipeline.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/speaker/media_player/audio_pipeline.cpp
@@ -174,6 +174,16 @@ AudioPipelineState AudioPipeline::process_state() {
     }
   }
 
+  if ((event_bits & EventGroupBits::READER_MESSAGE_ERROR)) {
+    xEventGroupClearBits(this->event_group_, EventGroupBits::READER_MESSAGE_ERROR);
+    return AudioPipelineState::ERROR_READING;
+  }
+
+  if ((event_bits & EventGroupBits::DECODER_MESSAGE_ERROR)) {
+    xEventGroupClearBits(this->event_group_, EventGroupBits::DECODER_MESSAGE_ERROR);
+    return AudioPipelineState::ERROR_DECODING;
+  }
+
   if ((event_bits & EventGroupBits::READER_MESSAGE_FINISHED) &&
       (!(event_bits & EventGroupBits::READER_MESSAGE_LOADED_MEDIA_TYPE) &&
        (event_bits & EventGroupBits::DECODER_MESSAGE_FINISHED))) {
@@ -203,16 +213,6 @@ AudioPipelineState AudioPipeline::process_state() {
     return AudioPipelineState::STOPPED;
   }
 
-  if ((event_bits & EventGroupBits::READER_MESSAGE_ERROR)) {
-    xEventGroupClearBits(this->event_group_, EventGroupBits::READER_MESSAGE_ERROR);
-    return AudioPipelineState::ERROR_READING;
-  }
-
-  if ((event_bits & EventGroupBits::DECODER_MESSAGE_ERROR)) {
-    xEventGroupClearBits(this->event_group_, EventGroupBits::DECODER_MESSAGE_ERROR);
-    return AudioPipelineState::ERROR_DECODING;
-  }
-
   if (this->pause_state_) {
     return AudioPipelineState::PAUSED;
   }