diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
index f8beaeab78..6133ad1d7e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ bool Nextion::check_connect_() {
   std::string response;
 
   this->recv_ret_string_(response, 0, false);
+  if (!response.empty() && response[0] == 0x1A) {
+    // Swallow invalid variable name responses that may be caused by the above commands
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "0x1A error ignored during setup");
+    return false;
+  }
   if (response.empty() || response.find("comok") == std::string::npos) {
 #ifdef NEXTION_PROTOCOL_LOG
     ESP_LOGN(TAG, "Bad connect request %s", response.c_str());