diff --git a/esphome/components/debug/__init__.py b/esphome/components/debug/__init__.py
index 6b4205a545..dc032f442e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/debug/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/debug/__init__.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ async def to_code(config):
         zephyr_add_prj_conf("SEGGER_RTT_MODE_BLOCK_IF_FIFO_FULL", True)
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     await cg.register_component(var, config)
+    cg.add_define("USE_DEBUG")
 
 
 FILTER_SOURCE_FILES = filter_source_files_from_platform(
diff --git a/esphome/components/zephyr/core.cpp b/esphome/components/zephyr/core.cpp
index 365b6b8ed2..d5427a0ebf 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zephyr/core.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/zephyr/core.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <zephyr/random/random.h>
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 
 namespace esphome {
 
@@ -25,7 +26,14 @@ void arch_init() {
     wdt_config.window.max = 2000;
     wdt_channel_id = wdt_install_timeout(WDT, &wdt_config);
     if (wdt_channel_id >= 0) {
-      wdt_setup(WDT, WDT_OPT_PAUSE_HALTED_BY_DBG | WDT_OPT_PAUSE_IN_SLEEP);
+      uint8_t options = 0;
+#ifdef USE_DEBUG
+      options |= WDT_OPT_PAUSE_HALTED_BY_DBG;
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_DEEP_SLEEP
+      options |= WDT_OPT_PAUSE_IN_SLEEP;
+#endif
+      wdt_setup(WDT, options);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/esphome/core/defines.h b/esphome/core/defines.h
index 8230518071..ac725fbca9 100644
--- a/esphome/core/defines.h
+++ b/esphome/core/defines.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #define USE_DATETIME_DATE
 #define USE_DATETIME_DATETIME
 #define USE_DATETIME_TIME
+#define USE_DEBUG
 #define USE_DEEP_SLEEP
 #define USE_DEVICES
 #define USE_DISPLAY