diff --git a/esphome/components/ota/ota_backend.h b/esphome/components/ota/ota_backend.h
index 7348a0ce90..ed2718f980 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ota/ota_backend.h
+++ b/esphome/components/ota/ota_backend.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <concepts>
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <type_traits>
 
 #ifdef USE_OTA_STATE_LISTENER
 #include <vector>
@@ -102,6 +103,9 @@ enum OTAType : uint8_t {
 // - set_update_md5: expected digest of the incoming image, hex string.
 // - write: consume the next chunk; end: finalize and mark bootable.
 // - abort: safe to call in any state, including after end().
+// - supports_compression: static constexpr, whether a gzip image can be stored
+//   as is and inflated at reboot; the esphome platform asserts it at compile
+//   time when it builds its own inflater.
 template<typename T>
 concept OTABackendContract = requires(T backend, size_t image_size, uint8_t *data, size_t len, const char *md5) {
   { backend.begin(image_size, OTA_TYPE_UPDATE_APP) } -> std::same_as<OTAResponseTypes>;
@@ -110,7 +114,8 @@ concept OTABackendContract = requires(T backend, size_t image_size, uint8_t *dat
   { backend.write(data, len) } -> std::same_as<OTAResponseTypes>;
   { backend.end() } -> std::same_as<OTAResponseTypes>;
   backend.abort();
-  { backend.supports_compression() } -> std::same_as<bool>;
+  { T::supports_compression() } -> std::same_as<bool>;
+  requires std::bool_constant<T::supports_compression()>::value || true;
 };
 
 /** Listener interface for OTA state changes.
diff --git a/tests/components/ota/test_backend_contract.cpp b/tests/components/ota/test_backend_contract.cpp
index 1b4fbbc32d..36b7a793c3 100644
--- a/tests/components/ota/test_backend_contract.cpp
+++ b/tests/components/ota/test_backend_contract.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ struct MinimalBackend {
   OTAResponseTypes write(uint8_t *data, size_t len) { return OTA_RESPONSE_OK; }
   OTAResponseTypes end() { return OTA_RESPONSE_OK; }
   void abort() {}
-  bool supports_compression() { return false; }
+  static constexpr bool supports_compression() { return false; }
 };
 static_assert(OTABackendContract<MinimalBackend>);