diff --git a/esphome/components/logger/__init__.py b/esphome/components/logger/__init__.py
index 0140d0889ce..da5f2a38cb7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/logger/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/logger/__init__.py
@@ -220,6 +220,13 @@ def validate_local_no_higher_than_global(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
                 [CONF_BOOT_LOG_LEVEL],
             )
         )
+    if config[CONF_BOOT_LOGS] and config[CONF_BOOT_LOG_BUFFER_SIZE] == 0:
+        errs.append(
+            cv.Invalid(
+                "boot_logs has no effect without boot_log_buffer_size",
+                [CONF_BOOT_LOGS],
+            )
+        )
     if errs:
         raise cv.MultipleInvalid(errs)
     return config
diff --git a/tests/components/logger/test-boot_log_buffer.esp8266-ard.yaml b/tests/components/logger/test-boot_log_buffer.esp8266-ard.yaml
index ba51773cdb9..da57ff18095 100644
--- a/tests/components/logger/test-boot_log_buffer.esp8266-ard.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/logger/test-boot_log_buffer.esp8266-ard.yaml
@@ -9,3 +9,5 @@ esphome:
 logger:
   id: logger_id
   boot_log_buffer_size: 2kB
+  boot_logs:
+    wifi: DEBUG