diff --git a/esphome/components/light/__init__.py b/esphome/components/light/__init__.py
index 17553cf6962..4090ca57c25 100644
--- a/esphome/components/light/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/light/__init__.py
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ from .effects import (
     validate_effects,
 )
 from .types import (  # noqa
-    COLOR_MODES,
     AddressableLight,
     AddressableLightState,
     ColorMode,
@@ -265,12 +264,8 @@ async def setup_light_core_(light_var, config, output_var):
     if (initial_state_config := config.get(CONF_INITIAL_STATE)) is not None:
         # Emit a stateless lambda that constructs the initial state — values live
         # in flash as code, not stored in the LightState object (~40 bytes saved).
-        # Map config string to C++ enum; defaults to UNKNOWN if not specified
-        color_mode_expr = COLOR_MODES.get(
-            initial_state_config.get(CONF_COLOR_MODE), ColorMode.UNKNOWN
-        )
         initial_state = LightStateRTCState(
-            color_mode_expr,
+            initial_state_config.get(CONF_COLOR_MODE, ColorMode.UNKNOWN),
             initial_state_config.get(CONF_STATE, False),
             initial_state_config.get(CONF_BRIGHTNESS, 1.0),
             initial_state_config.get(CONF_COLOR_BRIGHTNESS, 1.0),