diff --git a/esphome/components/json/json_util.h b/esphome/components/json/json_util.h
index 0349833342..a8f452d7d0 100644
--- a/esphome/components/json/json_util.h
+++ b/esphome/components/json/json_util.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 
 #define ARDUINOJSON_ENABLE_STD_STRING 1  // NOLINT