diff --git a/tests/components/bluetooth_connection/__init__.py b/tests/components/bluetooth_connection/__init__.py
index 9c1ad4e74d4..45bf77b4e84 100644
--- a/tests/components/bluetooth_connection/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/components/bluetooth_connection/__init__.py
@@ -6,15 +6,14 @@ def override_manifest(manifest: ComponentManifestOverride) -> None:
     # close_service_batch compiles only under USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS;
     # emit the backend define so the host build exercises it.
     async def to_code_testing(config):
-        # These defines are global to the merged host test binary; safe
-        # because no co-compiled test observes them.
+        # These defines are global to the merged host test binary. The api sources are
+        # compiled in it too (the api tests define USE_API), and USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY would make
+        # them include and call bluetooth_proxy, which has no host build without a BLE hub.
         cg.add_define("USE_BLE_GATT_CLIENT")
         cg.add_define("USE_BLE_GATT_CLIENT_STUB_BACKEND")
-        cg.add_define("USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY")
         # Gates the connection half of the API surface, which is what
         # close_service_batch and the GATT response types live behind.
         cg.add_define("USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY_CONNECTIONS")
-        cg.add_define("BLUETOOTH_PROXY_ADVERTISEMENT_BATCH_SIZE", 16)
         cg.add_define("BLUETOOTH_PROXY_MAX_CONNECTIONS", 1)
 
     manifest.to_code = to_code_testing