diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp4461/output/mcp4461_output.h b/esphome/components/mcp4461/output/mcp4461_output.h
index 3417447300..7baed7d825 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp4461/output/mcp4461_output.h
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp4461/output/mcp4461_output.h
@@ -11,14 +11,13 @@ namespace mcp4461 {
 class Mcp4461Wiper : public output::FloatOutput {
  public:
   Mcp4461Wiper(Mcp4461Component *parent, Mcp4461WiperIdx wiper, bool enable, bool terminal_a, bool terminal_b,
-               bool terminal_w, float initial_value)
+               bool terminal_w)
       : parent_(parent),
         wiper_(wiper),
         enable_(enable),
         terminal_a_(terminal_a),
         terminal_b_(terminal_b),
-        terminal_w_(terminal_w),
-        initial_value_(initial_value) {
+        terminal_w_(terminal_w) {
     uint8_t wiper_idx = static_cast<uint8_t>(wiper);
     // update wiper connection state
     if (!(this->enable_) && wiper_idx < 4) {
@@ -31,7 +30,6 @@ class Mcp4461Wiper : public output::FloatOutput {
       parent->disable_terminal(wiper, 'b');
     if (!terminal_w && wiper_idx < 4)
       parent->disable_terminal(wiper, 'w');
-    this->set_initial_value(initial_value);
   }
   uint16_t get_wiper_level();
   void save_level();
@@ -49,7 +47,7 @@ class Mcp4461Wiper : public output::FloatOutput {
   Mcp4461WiperIdx wiper_;
   bool enable_;
   uint16_t state_;
-  float initial_value_;
+  optional<float> initial_value_;
   bool terminal_a_;
   bool terminal_b_;
   bool terminal_w_;