diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index c26bbe17b7..1185db390e 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -1263,13 +1263,15 @@ constexpr uint8_t parse_hex_char(char c) {
 }
 
 /// Convert a nibble (0-15) to hex char with specified base ('a' for lowercase, 'A' for uppercase)
-inline char format_hex_char(uint8_t v, char base) { return v >= 10 ? base + (v - 10) : '0' + v; }
+__attribute__((always_inline)) inline char format_hex_char(uint8_t v, char base) {
+  return v >= 10 ? base + (v - 10) : '0' + v;
+}
 
 /// Convert a nibble (0-15) to lowercase hex char
-inline char format_hex_char(uint8_t v) { return format_hex_char(v, 'a'); }
+__attribute__((always_inline)) inline char format_hex_char(uint8_t v) { return format_hex_char(v, 'a'); }
 
 /// Convert a nibble (0-15) to uppercase hex char (used for pretty printing)
-inline char format_hex_pretty_char(uint8_t v) { return format_hex_char(v, 'A'); }
+__attribute__((always_inline)) inline char format_hex_pretty_char(uint8_t v) { return format_hex_char(v, 'A'); }
 
 /// Write int8 value to buffer without modulo operations.
 /// Buffer must have at least 4 bytes free. Returns pointer past last char written.