diff --git a/esphome/components/climate/climate.h b/esphome/components/climate/climate.h
index 861a57a6736..04f653a2b0f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/climate/climate.h
+++ b/esphome/components/climate/climate.h
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <vector>
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/entity_base.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
diff --git a/esphome/components/climate/climate_traits.h b/esphome/components/climate/climate_traits.h
index d364be0ac81..58d82ecfb32 100644
--- a/esphome/components/climate/climate_traits.h
+++ b/esphome/components/climate/climate_traits.h
@@ -153,10 +153,6 @@ class ClimateTraits {
   }
   const ClimateFanModeMask &get_supported_fan_modes() const { return this->supported_fan_modes_; }
 
-  void set_supported_custom_fan_modes(const std::vector<const char *> *modes) {
-    this->supported_custom_fan_modes_ = modes;
-  }
-
   // Remove before 2026.11.0
   ESPDEPRECATED("Call set_supported_custom_fan_modes() on the Climate entity instead. Removed in 2026.11.0", "2026.5.0")
   void set_supported_custom_fan_modes(std::initializer_list<const char *> modes) {
@@ -190,10 +186,6 @@ class ClimateTraits {
   bool get_supports_presets() const { return !this->supported_presets_.empty(); }
   const ClimatePresetMask &get_supported_presets() const { return this->supported_presets_; }
 
-  void set_supported_custom_presets(const std::vector<const char *> *presets) {
-    this->supported_custom_presets_ = presets;
-  }
-
   // Remove before 2026.11.0
   ESPDEPRECATED("Call set_supported_custom_presets() on the Climate entity instead. Removed in 2026.11.0", "2026.5.0")
   void set_supported_custom_presets(std::initializer_list<const char *> presets) {
@@ -276,6 +268,14 @@ class ClimateTraits {
     }
   }
 
+  /// Set custom mode pointers (only Climate::get_traits() should call these).
+  void set_supported_custom_fan_modes(const std::vector<const char *> *modes) {
+    this->supported_custom_fan_modes_ = modes;
+  }
+  void set_supported_custom_presets(const std::vector<const char *> *presets) {
+    this->supported_custom_presets_ = presets;
+  }
+
   /// Find and return the matching custom fan mode pointer from supported modes, or nullptr if not found
   /// This is protected as it's an implementation detail - use Climate::find_custom_fan_mode_() instead
   const char *find_custom_fan_mode_(const char *custom_fan_mode) const {