diff --git a/esphome/components/neopixelbus/light.py b/esphome/components/neopixelbus/light.py
index c63790e60b..0c9604e932 100644
--- a/esphome/components/neopixelbus/light.py
+++ b/esphome/components/neopixelbus/light.py
@@ -225,6 +225,9 @@ async def to_code(config):
     # https://github.com/Makuna/NeoPixelBus/blob/master/library.json
     # Version Listed Here: https://registry.platformio.org/libraries/makuna/NeoPixelBus/versions
     if CORE.is_esp32:
+        # disable built in rgb support as it uses the new RMT drivers and will
+        # conflict with NeoPixelBus which uses the legacy drivers
+        cg.add_build_flag("-DESP32_ARDUINO_NO_RGB_BUILTIN")
         cg.add_library("makuna/NeoPixelBus", "2.8.0")
     else:
         cg.add_library("makuna/NeoPixelBus", "2.7.3")