diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 7059127fa4..3cbc8c2eac 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -114,9 +114,10 @@ APIConnection::APIConnection(std::unique_ptr<socket::Socket> sock, APIServer *pa
     this->helper_ = std::unique_ptr<APIFrameHelper>{new APIPlaintextFrameHelper(std::move(sock))};
   }
 #elif defined(USE_API_PLAINTEXT)
-  this->helper_ = std::unique_ptr<APIFrameHelper>{new APIPlaintextFrameHelper(std::move(sock))};
+  this->helper_ = std::unique_ptr<APIPlaintextFrameHelper>{new APIPlaintextFrameHelper(std::move(sock))};
 #elif defined(USE_API_NOISE)
-  this->helper_ = std::unique_ptr<APIFrameHelper>{new APINoiseFrameHelper(std::move(sock), parent->get_noise_ctx())};
+  this->helper_ =
+      std::unique_ptr<APINoiseFrameHelper>{new APINoiseFrameHelper(std::move(sock), parent->get_noise_ctx())};
 #else
 #error "No frame helper defined"
 #endif
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
index 302ea75f68..54b6db6800 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 #include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 #ifdef USE_API
 #include "api_frame_helper.h"
+#ifdef USE_API_NOISE
+#include "api_frame_helper_noise.h"
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_API_PLAINTEXT
+#include "api_frame_helper_plaintext.h"
+#endif
 #include "api_pb2.h"
 #include "api_pb2_service.h"
 #include "api_server.h"
@@ -518,7 +524,13 @@ class APIConnection final : public APIServerConnectionBase {
   // === Optimal member ordering for 32-bit systems ===
 
   // Group 1: Pointers (4 bytes each on 32-bit)
+#if defined(USE_API_NOISE) && defined(USE_API_PLAINTEXT)
   std::unique_ptr<APIFrameHelper> helper_;
+#elif defined(USE_API_NOISE)
+  std::unique_ptr<APINoiseFrameHelper> helper_;
+#elif defined(USE_API_PLAINTEXT)
+  std::unique_ptr<APIPlaintextFrameHelper> helper_;
+#endif
   APIServer *parent_;
 
   // Group 2: Iterator union (saves ~16 bytes vs separate iterators)