diff --git a/esphome/espidf/bootloader.py b/esphome/espidf/bootloader.py
index 2e4a3bfc323..e8319e6a248 100644
--- a/esphome/espidf/bootloader.py
+++ b/esphome/espidf/bootloader.py
@@ -298,8 +298,11 @@ def _publish(build_dir: Path, key: str, payload: dict) -> Path:
 
 def _remove_dir(path: Path) -> None:
     """Best-effort rmtree with the repo's read-only and retry hardening."""
-    with contextlib.suppress(OSError):
+    try:
         rmtree(path)
+    except OSError as err:
+        # Leftovers are cleared by the daily prune; just leave a trace.
+        _LOGGER.debug("Could not remove %s: %s", path, err)
 
 
 def _install_into_build(entry: Path) -> Path:
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_espidf_bootloader.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_espidf_bootloader.py
index 1e238e112e4..a52ba5cc6d4 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_espidf_bootloader.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_espidf_bootloader.py
@@ -707,6 +707,18 @@ def test_prune_removes_only_old_work_dirs(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     assert fresh.exists()
 
 
+def test_remove_dir_logs_a_failed_delete(
+    tmp_path: Path, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
+) -> None:
+    """Best-effort cleanup never raises, but leaves a trace."""
+    with (
+        patch.object(bootloader, "rmtree", side_effect=OSError("busy")),
+        caplog.at_level("DEBUG"),
+    ):
+        bootloader._remove_dir(tmp_path)
+    assert "Could not remove" in caplog.text
+
+
 def test_prune_swallows_cache_root_errors() -> None:
     """Housekeeping never fails a build."""
     with patch.object(bootloader, "_cache_root", side_effect=OSError("gone")):