diff --git a/esphome/components/ili9341/ili9341.cpp b/esphome/components/ili9341/ili9341.cpp
index 94dd44bff2..f952fbe8fe 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ili9341/ili9341.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ili9341/ili9341.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ void HOT ili9341::draw_absolute_pixel_internal(int x, int y, int color) {
 
 // should return the total size: return this->get_width_internal() * this->get_height_internal() * 2 // 16bit color
 // values per bit is huge
-uint32_t ili9341::get_buffer_length_() { return 0; }
+uint32_t ili9341::get_buffer_length_() { return 1; }
 
 void ili9341::start_command_() {
   this->dc_pin_->digital_write(false);