diff --git a/esphome/build_gen/arduino8266.py b/esphome/build_gen/arduino8266.py
index 111a233f57..043c18f989 100644
--- a/esphome/build_gen/arduino8266.py
+++ b/esphome/build_gen/arduino8266.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from esphome.build_helpers.ninja import shell_token as _shell_token
 from esphome.components.esp8266 import build_surgery
 from esphome.core import CORE, EsphomeError
 from esphome.helpers import mkdir_p, write_file_if_changed
-from esphome.platformio.library import lex_build_flags, raise_on_empty_arg_flags
+from esphome.platformio.library import lex_build_flags
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from esphome.arduino8266.framework import InstalledPaths
@@ -248,10 +248,8 @@ def _lexed_build_flags() -> list[str]:
 
     Lex once per build; consumers share the tokens.
     """
-    tokens = lex_build_flags(sorted(CORE.build_flags), "esphome")
-    # Raises for every consumer of the shared token list
-    raise_on_empty_arg_flags(tokens, "build_flags")
-    return tokens
+    # The funnel warns and drops empty glued arguments (-D "") itself
+    return lex_build_flags(sorted(CORE.build_flags), "esphome")
 
 
 def _flag_defines(unflags: set[str], tokens: list[str]) -> dict[str, str]:
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/build_gen/test_arduino8266.py b/tests/unit_tests/build_gen/test_arduino8266.py
index 6f1d7f9272..41f506f713 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/build_gen/test_arduino8266.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/build_gen/test_arduino8266.py
@@ -591,12 +591,15 @@ def test_vtables_conflicting_raises() -> None:
         _resolve("-DVTABLES_IN_DRAM", "-DVTABLES_IN_IRAM")
 
 
-def test_empty_lib_flags_raise() -> None:
-    """A bare -L would silently add the CWD to the search path; the shared
-    lex point raises for every consumer."""
-    CORE.build_flags = {'-L ""', '-l ""'}
-    with pytest.raises(EsphomeError, match=r"empty-argument flag\(s\): -L, -l"):
-        arduino8266._lexed_build_flags()
+def test_empty_lib_flags_warned_and_dropped(
+    caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+) -> None:
+    """A bare -L would silently add the CWD to the search path; the lex
+    funnel warns and drops it for every consumer."""
+    CORE.build_flags = {'-L ""', '-l ""', "-DFOO"}
+    assert arduino8266._lexed_build_flags() == ["-DFOO"]
+    assert "Ignoring '-L' with empty argument" in caplog.text
+    assert "Ignoring '-l' with empty argument" in caplog.text
 
 
 def test_generate_ld_scripts_surfaces_preprocessor_warnings(
@@ -1017,12 +1020,15 @@ def test_generate_ld_scripts_unreadable_header_forces_regeneration(
         mock_run.assert_called_once()
 
 
-def test_bare_include_and_define_raise() -> None:
+def test_bare_include_and_define_dropped(
+    caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+) -> None:
     """An empty-argument -I or -D would make gcc eat the next flag as the
-    argument; the shared lex point raises for every consumer."""
+    argument; the lex funnel warns and drops both."""
     CORE.build_flags = {'-I ""', '-D ""'}
-    with pytest.raises(EsphomeError, match=r"empty-argument flag\(s\): -D, -I"):
-        arduino8266._lexed_build_flags()
+    assert arduino8266._lexed_build_flags() == []
+    assert "Ignoring '-I' with empty argument" in caplog.text
+    assert "Ignoring '-D' with empty argument" in caplog.text
 
 
 def test_generate_ld_scripts_gcc_change_invalidates_stamp(tmp_path: Path) -> None: