diff --git a/esphome/components/ble_client/__init__.py b/esphome/components/ble_client/__init__.py
index 0f3869c23b..5f4ea8afd1 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ble_client/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/ble_client/__init__.py
@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@ async def remove_bond_to_code(config, action_id, template_arg, args):
 async def to_code(config):
     # Register the loggers this component needs
     esp32_ble.register_bt_logger(BTLoggers.GATT, BTLoggers.SMP)
+    cg.add_define("USE_ESP32_BLE_UUID")
 
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     await cg.register_component(var, config)