diff --git a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/client.py b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/client.py
index a4b2c20e2a5..4d286a355eb 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/client.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/client.py
@@ -669,25 +669,29 @@ class MQTT:
         result: int | None = None
         self._available_future = client_available
         self._should_reconnect = True
+        connect_args: list[Any] = [
+            self.conf[CONF_BROKER],
+            self.conf.get(CONF_PORT, DEFAULT_PORT),
+            self.conf.get(CONF_KEEPALIVE, DEFAULT_KEEPALIVE),
+            "",  # bind_address default
+            0,  # bind_port default
+        ]
+        if self.is_mqttv5:
+            # See:
+            # https://eclipse.dev/paho/files/paho.mqtt.python/html/client.html
+            # `clean_start` (bool) – (MQTT v5.0 only) `True`, `False` or
+            # `MQTT_CLEAN_START_FIRST_ONLY`. Sets the MQTT v5.0 clean_start flag
+            #  always, never or on the first successful connect only,
+            # respectively. MQTT session data (such as outstanding messages and
+            # subscriptions) is cleared on successful connect when the
+            # clean_start flag is set. For MQTT v3.1.1, the clean_session
+            # argument of Client should be used for similar result.
+            connect_args.append(True)  # clean_start
         try:
             async with self._connection_lock, self._async_connect_in_executor():
                 result = await self.hass.async_add_executor_job(
-                    self._mqttc.connect,
-                    self.conf[CONF_BROKER],
-                    self.conf.get(CONF_PORT, DEFAULT_PORT),
-                    self.conf.get(CONF_KEEPALIVE, DEFAULT_KEEPALIVE),
-                    "",  # bind_address default
-                    0,  # bind_port default
-                    # See:
-                    # https://eclipse.dev/paho/files/paho.mqtt.python/html/client.html
-                    # `clean_start` (bool) – (MQTT v5.0 only) `True`, `False` or
-                    # `MQTT_CLEAN_START_FIRST_ONLY`. Sets the MQTT v5.0 clean_start flag
-                    #  always, never or on the first successful connect only,
-                    # respectively. MQTT session data (such as outstanding messages and
-                    # subscriptions) is cleared on successful connect when the
-                    # clean_start flag is set. For MQTT v3.1.1, the clean_session
-                    # argument of Client should be used for similar result.
-                    True if self.is_mqttv5 else mqtt.MQTT_CLEAN_START_FIRST_ONLY,
+                    self._mqttc.connect,  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+                    *connect_args,
                 )
         except (OSError, mqtt.WebsocketConnectionError) as err:
             _LOGGER.error("Failed to connect to MQTT server due to exception: %s", err)
diff --git a/tests/components/mqtt/test_client.py b/tests/components/mqtt/test_client.py
index c309bdaa1b8..2e7958035c1 100644
--- a/tests/components/mqtt/test_client.py
+++ b/tests/components/mqtt/test_client.py
@@ -1387,14 +1387,14 @@ async def test_setup_mqtt_client_clean_session_and_protocol(
                 mqtt.CONF_BROKER: "mock-broker",
                 CONF_PROTOCOL: "3.1",
             },
-            call("mock-broker", 1883, 60, "", 0, 3),
+            call("mock-broker", 1883, 60, "", 0),
         ),
         (
             {
                 mqtt.CONF_BROKER: "mock-broker",
                 CONF_PROTOCOL: "3.1.1",
             },
-            call("mock-broker", 1883, 60, "", 0, 3),
+            call("mock-broker", 1883, 60, "", 0),
         ),
         (
             {
@@ -1412,7 +1412,10 @@ async def test_setup_mqtt_client_clean_start(
     mqtt_client_mock: MqttMockPahoClient,
     connect_args: tuple[Any],
 ) -> None:
-    """Test MQTT client protocol connects with `clean_start` set correctly."""
+    """Test MQTT client protocol connects with `clean_start` set correctly.
+
+    When MQTT v5 is used, we set `clean_start` to `True` on connect.
+    """
     await mqtt_mock_entry()
 
     # check if clean_start was set correctly