diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
index 26a61de0b1..856152de63 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
@@ -50,13 +50,15 @@ void FanCall::validate_() {
   }
 
   if (!this->preset_mode_.empty()) {
-    const auto &preset_modes = traits.supported_preset_modes();
-    // Linear search is efficient for small preset mode lists (typically 2-5 items)
     bool found = false;
-    for (const auto &mode : preset_modes) {
-      if (mode == this->preset_mode_) {
-        found = true;
-        break;
+    if (traits.supports_preset_modes()) {
+      const auto &preset_modes = traits.supported_preset_modes();
+      // Linear search is efficient for small preset mode lists (typically 2-5 items)
+      for (const auto &mode : preset_modes) {
+        if (mode == this->preset_mode_) {
+          found = true;
+          break;
+        }
       }
     }
     if (!found) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h b/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
index 4c10ccd10a..138d39bb65 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class FanTraits {
   /// Set the preset modes supported by the fan.
   void set_supported_preset_modes(const FixedVector<std::string> *preset_modes) { this->preset_modes_ = preset_modes; }
   /// Return if preset modes are supported
-  bool supports_preset_modes() const { return !this->preset_modes_->empty(); }
+  bool supports_preset_modes() const { return this->preset_modes_ != nullptr && !this->preset_modes_->empty(); }
 
  protected:
 #ifdef USE_API