diff --git a/esphome/components/ble_client/text_sensor/ble_text_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/ble_client/text_sensor/ble_text_sensor.cpp
index 53c9a9d10e..cacf1b4835 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ble_client/text_sensor/ble_text_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ble_client/text_sensor/ble_text_sensor.cpp
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@ namespace esphome::ble_client {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "ble_text_sensor";
 
-static const std::string EMPTY = "";
-
 void BLETextSensor::loop() {
   // Parent BLEClientNode has a loop() method, but this component uses
   // polling via update() and BLE callbacks so loop isn't needed
@@ -47,7 +45,7 @@ void BLETextSensor::gattc_event_handler(esp_gattc_cb_event_t event, esp_gatt_if_
     }
     case ESP_GATTC_CLOSE_EVT: {
       this->status_set_warning();
-      this->publish_state(EMPTY);
+      this->publish_state("");
       break;
     }
     case ESP_GATTC_SEARCH_CMPL_EVT: {
@@ -55,7 +53,7 @@ void BLETextSensor::gattc_event_handler(esp_gattc_cb_event_t event, esp_gatt_if_
       auto *chr = this->parent()->get_characteristic(this->service_uuid_, this->char_uuid_);
       if (chr == nullptr) {
         this->status_set_warning();
-        this->publish_state(EMPTY);
+        this->publish_state("");
         char service_buf[esp32_ble::UUID_STR_LEN];
         char char_buf[esp32_ble::UUID_STR_LEN];
         ESP_LOGW(TAG, "No sensor characteristic found at service %s char %s", this->service_uuid_.to_str(service_buf),
@@ -67,7 +65,7 @@ void BLETextSensor::gattc_event_handler(esp_gattc_cb_event_t event, esp_gatt_if_
         auto *descr = chr->get_descriptor(this->descr_uuid_);
         if (descr == nullptr) {
           this->status_set_warning();
-          this->publish_state(EMPTY);
+          this->publish_state("");
           char service_buf[esp32_ble::UUID_STR_LEN];
           char char_buf[esp32_ble::UUID_STR_LEN];
           char descr_buf[esp32_ble::UUID_STR_LEN];
@@ -99,7 +97,7 @@ void BLETextSensor::gattc_event_handler(esp_gattc_cb_event_t event, esp_gatt_if_
           break;
         }
         this->status_clear_warning();
-        this->publish_state(this->parse_data(param->read.value, param->read.value_len));
+        this->publish_state(reinterpret_cast<const char *>(param->read.value), param->read.value_len);
       }
       break;
     }
@@ -108,7 +106,7 @@ void BLETextSensor::gattc_event_handler(esp_gattc_cb_event_t event, esp_gatt_if_
         break;
       ESP_LOGV(TAG, "[%s] ESP_GATTC_NOTIFY_EVT: handle=0x%x, value=0x%x", this->get_name().c_str(),
                param->notify.handle, param->notify.value[0]);
-      this->publish_state(this->parse_data(param->notify.value, param->notify.value_len));
+      this->publish_state(reinterpret_cast<const char *>(param->notify.value), param->notify.value_len);
       break;
     }
     case ESP_GATTC_REG_FOR_NOTIFY_EVT: {
@@ -121,11 +119,6 @@ void BLETextSensor::gattc_event_handler(esp_gattc_cb_event_t event, esp_gatt_if_
   }
 }
 
-std::string BLETextSensor::parse_data(uint8_t *value, uint16_t value_len) {
-  std::string text(value, value + value_len);
-  return text;
-}
-
 void BLETextSensor::update() {
   if (this->node_state != espbt::ClientState::ESTABLISHED) {
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "[%s] Cannot poll, not connected", this->get_name().c_str());
@@ -140,7 +133,7 @@ void BLETextSensor::update() {
                                         ESP_GATT_AUTH_REQ_NONE);
   if (status) {
     this->status_set_warning();
-    this->publish_state(EMPTY);
+    this->publish_state("");
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "[%s] Error sending read request for sensor, status=%d", this->get_name().c_str(), status);
   }
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/ble_client/text_sensor/ble_text_sensor.h b/esphome/components/ble_client/text_sensor/ble_text_sensor.h
index 3fbd64389c..b4374e4016 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ble_client/text_sensor/ble_text_sensor.h
+++ b/esphome/components/ble_client/text_sensor/ble_text_sensor.h
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ class BLETextSensor : public text_sensor::TextSensor, public PollingComponent, p
   void set_descr_uuid32(uint32_t uuid) { this->descr_uuid_ = espbt::ESPBTUUID::from_uint32(uuid); }
   void set_descr_uuid128(uint8_t *uuid) { this->descr_uuid_ = espbt::ESPBTUUID::from_raw(uuid); }
   void set_enable_notify(bool notify) { this->notify_ = notify; }
-  std::string parse_data(uint8_t *value, uint16_t value_len);
   uint16_t handle;
 
  protected: