diff --git a/esphome/build_gen/arduino8266.py b/esphome/build_gen/arduino8266.py
index fb46cfd7f1..433c0b5d7d 100644
--- a/esphome/build_gen/arduino8266.py
+++ b/esphome/build_gen/arduino8266.py
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ def generate_ld_scripts(
         content = build_surgery.relocate_ratetable(result.stdout)
         if CORE.testing_mode:
             content = build_surgery.apply_testing_memory_patches(
-                content, require=("iram1_0_seg",)
+                content, ("iram1_0_seg",)
             )
         write_file_if_changed(output, content)
         stamp.write_text(stamp_content, encoding="utf-8")
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ def generate_ld_scripts(
             ld_dir / f"testing_{flash_ld_name}",
             build_surgery.apply_testing_memory_patches(
                 flash_ld.read_text(encoding="utf-8"),
-                require=("dram0_0_seg", "irom0_0_seg"),
+                ("dram0_0_seg", "irom0_0_seg"),
             ),
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/build_gen/test_arduino8266.py b/tests/unit_tests/build_gen/test_arduino8266.py
index b214e45e49..9bba720da6 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/build_gen/test_arduino8266.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/build_gen/test_arduino8266.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from esphome.build_gen.arduino8266 import (
     _resolve_build_config,
     get_flash_ld_path,
 )
-from esphome.components.esp8266.boards import BOARDS, ESP8266_BOARD_BUILD
+from esphome.components.esp8266.boards import ESP8266_BOARD_BUILD
 from esphome.components.esp8266.build_surgery import RATETABLE_RULE
 from esphome.components.esp8266.const import (
     KEY_BOARD,
@@ -58,11 +58,6 @@ def _set_flags(*flags: str) -> None:
     CORE.build_flags = set(flags)
 
 
-def test_board_build_covers_every_board() -> None:
-    """Every supported board must have variant/define metadata."""
-    assert set(BOARDS) <= set(ESP8266_BOARD_BUILD)
-
-
 def test_build_config_defaults() -> None:
 
     _set_flags()