diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/automation.h b/esphome/components/fan/automation.h
index 048ba04646..48de8d66fb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/automation.h
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/automation.h
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ class FanPresetSetTrigger : public Trigger<std::string> {
  public:
   FanPresetSetTrigger(Fan *state) {
     state->add_on_state_callback([this, state]() {
-      auto preset_mode = state->get_preset_mode();
+      const auto *preset_mode = state->get_preset_mode();
       auto should_trigger = preset_mode != this->last_preset_mode_;
       this->last_preset_mode_ = preset_mode;
       if (should_trigger && preset_mode != nullptr) {