diff --git a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/select/modbus_select.cpp b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/select/modbus_select.cpp
index 674dd05e55..4d4b5a4ffc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modbus_controller/select/modbus_select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/modbus_controller/select/modbus_select.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void ModbusSelect::parse_and_publish(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) {
 
     if (map_it != this->mapping_.cend()) {
       size_t idx = std::distance(this->mapping_.cbegin(), map_it);
-      new_state = this->traits.get_options()[idx];
+      new_state = std::string(this->traits.get_options()[idx]);
       ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Found option %s for value %lld", new_state->c_str(), value);
     } else {
       ESP_LOGE(TAG, "No option found for mapping %lld", value);