diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index b1f24b25a3d..cfc92932a9d 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -242,8 +242,9 @@ template<typename T, size_t N> class StaticVector {
   size_t count_{0};
 
  public:
-  // Default constructor
-  StaticVector() = default;
+  // User provided, not "= default": otherwise `StaticVector<...> x_{}` members
+  // value-initialize and memset data_, defeating the comment above.
+  constexpr StaticVector() noexcept {}
 
   // Iterator range constructor
   template<typename InputIt> StaticVector(InputIt first, InputIt last) {