diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
index 56bbc840fb..74e453e028 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
@@ -397,8 +397,12 @@ bool Nextion::remove_from_q_(bool report_empty) {
 }
 
 void Nextion::process_serial_() {
-  // Read all available bytes in batches to reduce UART call overhead.
   int avail = this->available();
+  if (avail <= 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Read all available bytes in batches to reduce UART call overhead.
   uint8_t buf[64];
   while (avail > 0) {
     size_t to_read = std::min(static_cast<size_t>(avail), sizeof(buf));