diff --git a/esphome/components/uln2003/uln2003.cpp b/esphome/components/uln2003/uln2003.cpp
index 1af9806906..991fe53487 100644
--- a/esphome/components/uln2003/uln2003.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/uln2003/uln2003.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ void ULN2003::dump_config() {
   LOG_PIN("  Pin C: ", this->pin_c_);
   LOG_PIN("  Pin D: ", this->pin_d_);
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Sleep when done: %s", YESNO(this->sleep_when_done_));
-  const char *step_mode_s = "";
+  const char *step_mode_s;
   switch (this->step_mode_) {
     case ULN2003_STEP_MODE_FULL_STEP:
       step_mode_s = "FULL STEP";
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ void ULN2003::dump_config() {
     case ULN2003_STEP_MODE_WAVE_DRIVE:
       step_mode_s = "WAVE DRIVE";
       break;
+    default:
+      step_mode_s = "UNKNOWN";
+      break;
   }
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Step Mode: %s", step_mode_s);
 }