diff --git a/esphome/core/config.py b/esphome/core/config.py
index 6f9b271dca..ef34b02385 100644
--- a/esphome/core/config.py
+++ b/esphome/core/config.py
@@ -561,7 +561,9 @@ def _add_library_str(lib: str) -> None:
 NATIVE_ARDUINO_PIO_OPTIONS = frozenset({"board_build.f_cpu", "board_build.ldscript"})
 # The full set that survives into CORE.platformio_options under the native
 # arduino toolchain: lib_ignore is the only specially-translated key below
-# that is stored rather than translated away
+# that is stored rather than translated away. Intentionally unused until the
+# esp8266 native backend (the final PR in this chain) consumes it for its
+# ignored-option warning; defined here so it stays adjacent to the routing.
 NATIVE_ARDUINO_CONSUMED_PIO_OPTIONS = NATIVE_ARDUINO_PIO_OPTIONS | {"lib_ignore"}