diff --git a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.h b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.h
index cdf7076ab7..5052e7eca1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/bluetooth_connection/bluetooth_connection.h
@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@
 // The connection-aware API request handlers are compiled: a GATT backend is
 // wired by codegen (one slot per connection). This is the single spelling of
 // that predicate - the hub wrapper and the API request handlers gate on it.
-// Advertisement-only builds get the clean-error handlers; address-scoped
-// maintenance (unpair, cache clear) still works there through the
-// per-platform free functions below.
-#ifdef USE_BLE_GATT_CLIENT
+// The wrapper serves the proxy's API surface, so it compiles only when a
+// backend AND the proxy are present; advertisement-only and backend-only
+// builds get the clean-error handlers instead. Address-scoped maintenance
+// (unpair, cache clear) still works there through the per-platform free
+// functions below.
+#if defined(USE_BLE_GATT_CLIENT) && defined(USE_BLUETOOTH_PROXY)
 #define BLUETOOTH_CONNECTION_HAS_GATT
 #endif