diff --git a/esphome/components/select/__init__.py b/esphome/components/select/__init__.py
index c156a63a86..7e4047d3c8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/select/__init__.py
@@ -90,6 +90,6 @@ async def to_code(config):
 async def select_set_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
     paren = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_ID])
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(action_id, template_arg, paren)
-    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_OPTION], args, str)
+    template_ = await cg.templatable(config[CONF_OPTION], args, cg.std_string)
     cg.add(var.set_option(template_))
     return var