diff --git a/esphome/writer.py b/esphome/writer.py
index 866377d2f5..6f061c53de 100644
--- a/esphome/writer.py
+++ b/esphome/writer.py
@@ -342,7 +342,9 @@ def copy_src_tree():
                 or existing.get("esphome_version") != __version__
             ):
                 sources_changed = True
-        except (json.JSONDecodeError, KeyError, OSError):
+        except (json.JSONDecodeError, AttributeError, KeyError, OSError):
+            # AttributeError: valid JSON that is not an object (truncated
+            # or hand-edited) has no .get; treat it as stale like the rest
             sources_changed = True
 
     # Write build_info header and JSON metadata
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py
index 46e60ebd8e..b0de99e039 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_writer.py
@@ -2214,6 +2214,56 @@ def test_copy_src_tree_handles_invalid_build_info_json(
     assert new_json["config_hash"] == 0xDEADBEEF
 
 
+@patch("esphome.writer.CORE")
+@patch("esphome.writer.iter_components")
+@patch("esphome.writer.walk_files")
+def test_copy_src_tree_handles_non_dict_build_info_json(
+    mock_walk_files: MagicMock,
+    mock_iter_components: MagicMock,
+    mock_core: MagicMock,
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """Valid JSON that is not an object (no .get) is treated as stale."""
+    # Setup directory structure
+    src_path = tmp_path / "src"
+    src_path.mkdir()
+    esphome_core_path = src_path / "esphome" / "core"
+    esphome_core_path.mkdir(parents=True)
+    build_path = tmp_path / "build"
+    build_path.mkdir()
+
+    # Create invalid build_info.json
+    build_info_json_path = build_path / "build_info.json"
+    build_info_json_path.write_text("[]")
+
+    # Create existing build_info_data.h
+    build_info_h_path = esphome_core_path / "build_info_data.h"
+    build_info_h_path.write_text("// old build_info_data.h")
+
+    # Setup mocks
+    mock_core.relative_src_path.side_effect = src_path.joinpath
+    mock_core.relative_build_path.side_effect = build_path.joinpath
+    mock_core.defines = []
+    mock_core.config_hash = 0xDEADBEEF
+    mock_core.comment = ""
+    mock_core.target_platform = "test_platform"
+    mock_core.config = {}
+    mock_iter_components.return_value = []
+    mock_walk_files.return_value = []
+
+    with (
+        patch("esphome.writer.__version__", "2025.1.0-dev"),
+        patch("esphome.writer.importlib.import_module") as mock_import,
+    ):
+        mock_import.side_effect = AttributeError
+        copy_src_tree()
+
+    # Verify build_info files were created despite invalid JSON
+    assert build_info_h_path.exists()
+    new_json = json.loads(build_info_json_path.read_text())
+    assert new_json["config_hash"] == 0xDEADBEEF
+
+
 @patch("esphome.writer.CORE")
 @patch("esphome.writer.iter_components")
 @patch("esphome.writer.walk_files")