diff --git a/esphome/core/base_automation.h b/esphome/core/base_automation.h
index 276b8aa9728..999b38bd5cf 100644
--- a/esphome/core/base_automation.h
+++ b/esphome/core/base_automation.h
@@ -180,7 +180,9 @@ class ProjectUpdateTrigger : public Trigger<std::string>, public Component {
 
 template<typename... Ts> class DelayAction : public Action<Ts...> {
  public:
-  explicit DelayAction() = default;
+  // User provided, not "= default": `new(p) DelayAction()` would zero-fill .bss that is already zero.
+  // constexpr and noexcept keep the rest of the implicit constructor's contract.
+  constexpr explicit DelayAction() noexcept {}
 
   TEMPLATABLE_VALUE(uint32_t, delay)