diff --git a/esphome/components/font/__init__.py b/esphome/components/font/__init__.py
index dacd0779b1..a3f11df50e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/font/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/font/__init__.py
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class TrueTypeFontWrapper:
         return offset_x, offset_y
 
     def getmask(self, glyph, **kwargs):
-        return self.font.getmask(glyph, **kwargs)
+        return self.font.getmask(str(glyph), **kwargs)
 
     def getmetrics(self, glyphs):
         return self.font.getmetrics()
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ class BitmapFontWrapper:
         return 0, 0
 
     def getmask(self, glyph, **kwargs):
-        return self.font.getmask(glyph, **kwargs)
+        return self.font.getmask(str(glyph), **kwargs)
 
     def getmetrics(self, glyphs):
         max_height = 0