diff --git a/esphome/arduino8266/toolchain.py b/esphome/arduino8266/toolchain.py
index 4d736c247f..d81b6b39ca 100644
--- a/esphome/arduino8266/toolchain.py
+++ b/esphome/arduino8266/toolchain.py
@@ -95,11 +95,11 @@ def run_compile(config: ConfigType, verbose: bool) -> int:
     _print_size_summary(build_dir)
     try:
         idedata = get_idedata()
-    except (EsphomeError, OSError, RuntimeError, ValueError) as err:
+    except (EsphomeError, LookupError, OSError, RuntimeError, ValueError) as err:
         # The firmware already built; idedata is a bonus artifact here.
         # Broad on purpose: a vanished compiler (OSError), a failed include
-        # probe (RuntimeError), or a truncated compile DB (ValueError) must
-        # not fail a successful build either.
+        # probe (RuntimeError), or a truncated/structurally odd compile DB
+        # (ValueError/LookupError) must not fail a successful build either.
         _LOGGER.warning("Could not generate idedata: %s", err)
     else:
         if idedata is None: