diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
index 124c2105be..fb9654da5b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan.cpp
@@ -297,9 +297,11 @@ void Fan::save_state_() {
   state.preset_mode = FanRestoreState::NO_PRESET;
 
   if (this->has_preset_mode()) {
-    // Use Fan-owned vector, or fall back to traits for deprecated path
+    // Use Fan-owned vector, or fall back to traits for deprecated path.
+    // Keep traits alive so the reference to compat_preset_modes_ doesn't dangle.
+    auto traits = this->supported_preset_modes_ ? FanTraits() : this->get_traits();
     const auto &preset_modes =
-        this->supported_preset_modes_ ? *this->supported_preset_modes_ : this->get_traits().supported_preset_modes();
+        this->supported_preset_modes_ ? *this->supported_preset_modes_ : traits.supported_preset_modes();
     for (size_t i = 0; i < preset_modes.size(); i++) {
       if (preset_modes[i] == this->preset_mode_) {
         state.preset_mode = i;
diff --git a/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h b/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
index 6a003f535f..046ae50929 100644
--- a/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
+++ b/esphome/components/fan/fan_traits.h
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ class FanTraits {
     this->compat_preset_modes_ = preset_modes;
   }
 
+  // Deleted overloads to catch incorrect std::string usage at compile time with clear error messages
+  void set_supported_preset_modes(const std::vector<std::string> &preset_modes) = delete;
+  void set_supported_preset_modes(std::initializer_list<std::string> preset_modes) = delete;
+
   /// Return if preset modes are supported
   bool supports_preset_modes() const {
     return (this->preset_modes_ && !this->preset_modes_->empty()) || !this->compat_preset_modes_.empty();