diff --git a/esphome/components/emontx/__init__.py b/esphome/components/emontx/__init__.py
index 7dde794f0b..3821f3e10e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/emontx/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/emontx/__init__.py
@@ -116,14 +116,16 @@ _CALLBACK_AUTOMATIONS = (
 
 async def to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
-    await cg.register_component(var, config)
-    await uart.register_uart_device(var, config)
 
-    # Initialize sensor storage with count from final_validate
+    # Initialize sensor storage with count from final_validate before any
+    # await, so platform to_code() calls always see it initialized
+    # regardless of YAML key order.
     sensor_count = _get_data().sensor_counts.get(str(config[CONF_ID]), 0)
     if sensor_count > 0:
         cg.add(var.init_sensors(sensor_count))
 
+    await cg.register_component(var, config)
+    await uart.register_uart_device(var, config)
     await automation.build_callback_automations(var, config, _CALLBACK_AUTOMATIONS)