diff --git a/esphome/components/remote_base/__init__.py b/esphome/components/remote_base/__init__.py
index 7edb8b042f9..dc0fd74a3c7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/remote_base/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/remote_base/__init__.py
@@ -145,7 +145,9 @@ _PROTOCOL_STEMS = sorted(
 def request_protocol(name: str) -> None:
     """Keep a protocol's source file in the build; components using it from C++ must call this."""
     if _protocol_stem(name) not in _PROTOCOL_STEMS:
-        raise ValueError(f"Unknown remote protocol {name!r}")
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Unknown remote protocol {name!r}; expected one of {', '.join(_PROTOCOL_STEMS)}"
+        )
     cg.add_define(protocol_define(name))