diff --git a/tests/benchmarks/components/api/__init__.py b/tests/benchmarks/components/api/__init__.py
index 0f18c1b108..069df670c1 100644
--- a/tests/benchmarks/components/api/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/benchmarks/components/api/__init__.py
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 import esphome.codegen as cg
 from tests.testing_helpers import ComponentManifestOverride
 
+# Keep in sync with esphome/components/api/__init__.py
+NOISE_C_LIB = ("esphome/noise-c", "0.1.11")
+
 
 def override_manifest(manifest: ComponentManifestOverride) -> None:
-    # Add USE_API_PLAINTEXT so frame helper headers compile.
-    # We cannot use enable_codegen() because the full api to_code
-    # brings in socket/network setup that fails in benchmark builds.
+    # Add defines for frame helper headers without running the full api
+    # to_code (which brings in socket/network setup that fails in
+    # benchmark builds).
     async def to_code(config):
         cg.add_define("USE_API_PLAINTEXT")
+        cg.add_define("USE_API_NOISE")
+        cg.add_library(*NOISE_C_LIB)
 
     manifest.to_code = to_code