diff --git a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp
index d9f198f4fc..5232ebc427 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ static const char *const TAG = "pulse_counter";
 
 const char *const EDGE_MODE_TO_STRING[] = {"DISABLE", "INCREMENT", "DECREMENT"};
 
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+#ifndef HAS_PCNT
 void IRAM_ATTR PulseCounterStorage::gpio_intr(PulseCounterStorage *arg) {
   const uint32_t now = micros();
   const bool discard = now - arg->last_pulse < arg->filter_us;
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pulse_counter_t PulseCounterStorage::read_raw_value() {
 }
 #endif
 
-#ifdef USE_ESP32
+#ifdef HAS_PCNT
 bool PulseCounterStorage::pulse_counter_setup(InternalGPIOPin *pin) {
   static pcnt_unit_t next_pcnt_unit = PCNT_UNIT_0;
   this->pin = pin;
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ bool PulseCounterStorage::pulse_counter_setup(InternalGPIOPin *pin) {
   }
 
   if (this->filter_us != 0) {
-    uint16_t filter_val = std::min(this->filter_us * 80u, 1023u);
+    uint16_t filter_val = std::min(static_cast<unsigned int>(this->filter_us * 80u), 1023u);
     ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "    Filter Value: %uus (val=%u)", this->filter_us, filter_val);
     error = pcnt_set_filter_value(this->pcnt_unit, filter_val);
     if (error != ESP_OK) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.h b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.h
index 9ed2159ae3..86c387d52a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.h
+++ b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.h
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/components/sensor/sensor.h"
 
-#ifdef USE_ESP32
+#if defined(USE_ESP32) && !defined(USE_ESP32_VARIANT_ESP32C3)
 #include <driver/pcnt.h>
+#define HAS_PCNT
 #endif
 
 namespace esphome {
@@ -17,10 +18,9 @@ enum PulseCounterCountMode {
   PULSE_COUNTER_DECREMENT,
 };
 
-#ifdef USE_ESP32
+#ifdef HAS_PCNT
 using pulse_counter_t = int16_t;
-#endif
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+#else
 using pulse_counter_t = int32_t;
 #endif
 
@@ -30,16 +30,15 @@ struct PulseCounterStorage {
 
   static void gpio_intr(PulseCounterStorage *arg);
 
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+#ifndef HAS_PCNT
   volatile pulse_counter_t counter{0};
   volatile uint32_t last_pulse{0};
 #endif
 
   InternalGPIOPin *pin;
-#ifdef USE_ESP32
+#ifdef HAS_PCNT
   pcnt_unit_t pcnt_unit;
-#endif
-#ifdef USE_ESP8266
+#else
   ISRInternalGPIOPin isr_pin;
 #endif
   PulseCounterCountMode rising_edge_mode{PULSE_COUNTER_INCREMENT};