diff --git a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
index ba5f994e9a..2672ea1edb 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/api/__init__.py
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ HOMEASSISTANT_TAG_SCANNED_ACTION_SCHEMA = cv.maybe_simple_value(
     HOMEASSISTANT_TAG_SCANNED_ACTION_SCHEMA,
 )
 async def homeassistant_tag_scanned_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
+    cg.add_define("USE_API_HOMEASSISTANT_SERVICES")
     serv = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_ID])
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg, serv, True)
     cg.add(var.set_service("esphome.tag_scanned"))