diff --git a/esphome/components/api/homeassistant_service.h b/esphome/components/api/homeassistant_service.h
index bc7afadb49..d1eb7ffc29 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/homeassistant_service.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/homeassistant_service.h
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 #include "api_pb2.h"
+#ifdef USE_API_HOMEASSISTANT_ACTION_RESPONSES_JSON
 #include "esphome/components/json/json_util.h"
+#endif
 #include "esphome/core/automation.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"