diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select_traits.cpp b/esphome/components/select/select_traits.cpp
index dc849b8b7e..c6ded98ebf 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select_traits.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select_traits.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 namespace esphome {
 namespace select {
 
-void SelectTraits::set_options(std::initializer_list<const char *> options) { this->options_ = options; }
+void SelectTraits::set_options(const std::initializer_list<const char *> &options) { this->options_ = options; }
 
 void SelectTraits::set_options(const FixedVector<const char *> &options) {
   this->options_.init(options.size());
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select_traits.h b/esphome/components/select/select_traits.h
index b504f08298..ee59a030ad 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select_traits.h
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select_traits.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ namespace select {
 
 class SelectTraits {
  public:
-  void set_options(std::initializer_list<const char *> options);
+  void set_options(const std::initializer_list<const char *> &options);
   void set_options(const FixedVector<const char *> &options);
   const FixedVector<const char *> &get_options() const;