diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
index fae485709e..aabd68f420 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,12 @@ void Select::publish_state(size_t index) {
   this->state_callback_.call(std::string(option), index);
 }
 
-const char *Select::current_option() const { return this->option_at(this->active_index_); }
+const char *Select::current_option() const {
+  if (!this->has_state() || !this->has_index(this->active_index_)) {
+    return "";
+  }
+  return this->option_at(this->active_index_);
+}
 
 void Select::add_on_state_callback(std::function<void(std::string, size_t)> &&callback) {
   this->state_callback_.add(std::move(callback));
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select.h b/esphome/components/select/select.h
index 030646c1ad..1598784c9c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select.h
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select.h
@@ -77,6 +77,11 @@ class Select : public EntityBase {
 
   void add_on_state_callback(std::function<void(std::string, size_t)> &&callback);
 
+ protected:
+  friend class SelectCall;
+
+  size_t active_index_{0};
+
   /** Set the value of the select by index, this is an optional virtual method.
    *
    * This method is called by the SelectCall when the index is already known.
@@ -87,11 +92,6 @@ class Select : public EntityBase {
    */
   virtual void control(size_t index) { this->control(this->option_at(index)); }
 
- protected:
-  friend class SelectCall;
-
-  size_t active_index_{0};
-
   /** Set the value of the select, this is a virtual method that each select integration can implement.
    *
    * This method is called by control(size_t) when not overridden, or directly by external code.