diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/__init__.py b/esphome/components/uart/__init__.py
index 7075228743..4ea32e26a3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/__init__.py
@@ -513,10 +513,11 @@ async def uart_write_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
 @coroutine_with_priority(CoroPriority.FINAL)
 async def final_step():
     """Final code generation step to configure optional UART features."""
-    if CORE.is_esp32 and CORE.has_networking:
-        # Wake-on-RX is essentially free on ESP32 (just an ISR function pointer
-        # registration) — enable by default to reduce RX buffer overflow risk
-        # by waking the main loop immediately when data arrives.
+    if (CORE.is_esp32 or CORE.is_esp8266) and CORE.has_networking:
+        # Wake-on-RX is essentially free (just an ISR function pointer
+        # registration on ESP32, an inline flag set on ESP8266 software
+        # serial) — enable by default to reduce RX buffer overflow risk by
+        # waking the main loop immediately when data arrives.
         cg.add_define("USE_UART_WAKE_LOOP_ON_RX")
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/uart/uart_component_esp8266.cpp b/esphome/components/uart/uart_component_esp8266.cpp
index 0ea7930760..fc1509f737 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uart/uart_component_esp8266.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/uart/uart_component_esp8266.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 #include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#ifdef USE_UART_WAKE_LOOP_ON_RX
+#include "esphome/core/wake.h"
+#endif
 
 #ifdef USE_LOGGER
 #include "esphome/components/logger/logger.h"
@@ -149,7 +152,11 @@ void ESP8266UartComponent::dump_config() {
   if (this->hw_serial_ != nullptr) {
     ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Using hardware serial interface.");
   } else {
-    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Using software serial");
+    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Using software serial"
+#ifdef USE_UART_WAKE_LOOP_ON_RX
+                       "\n  Wake on data RX: ENABLED"
+#endif
+    );
   }
   this->check_logger_conflict();
 }
@@ -266,6 +273,12 @@ void IRAM_ATTR ESP8266SoftwareSerial::gpio_intr(ESP8266SoftwareSerial *arg) {
   arg->rx_in_pos_ = (arg->rx_in_pos_ + 1) % arg->rx_buffer_size_;
   // Clear RX pin so that the interrupt doesn't re-trigger right away again.
   arg->rx_pin_.clear_interrupt();
+#ifdef USE_UART_WAKE_LOOP_ON_RX
+  // Wake the main loop so the consuming component drains the byte promptly
+  // instead of waiting for the next loop_interval_ tick. Important for timing
+  // sensitive setups that poll read() in a tight loop (e.g. fingerprint_grow).
+  wake_loop_isrsafe();
+#endif
 }
 void IRAM_ATTR HOT ESP8266SoftwareSerial::write_byte(uint8_t data) {
   if (this->gpio_tx_pin_ == nullptr) {