diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index bdfbdf31c2..becde9af7d 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -14,10 +14,6 @@
 
 #include "esphome/core/optional.h"
 
-namespace esphome {
-class StringRef;
-}
-
 #ifdef USE_ESP8266
 #include <Esp.h>
 #endif
@@ -49,6 +45,9 @@ class StringRef;
 
 namespace esphome {
 
+// Forward declaration to avoid circular dependency with string_ref.h
+class StringRef;
+
 /// @name STL backports
 ///@{