diff --git a/esphome/components/tm1638/tm1638.cpp b/esphome/components/tm1638/tm1638.cpp
index 7ba63fe218..8ef546ff32 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tm1638/tm1638.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tm1638/tm1638.cpp
@@ -35,9 +35,6 @@ void TM1638Component::setup() {
   this->set_intensity(intensity_);
 
   this->reset_();  // all LEDs off
-
-  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 8; i++)  // zero fill print buffer
-    this->buffer_[i] = 0;
 }
 
 void TM1638Component::dump_config() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/tm1638/tm1638.h b/esphome/components/tm1638/tm1638.h
index f6b2922ecf..27898aa3dc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tm1638/tm1638.h
+++ b/esphome/components/tm1638/tm1638.h
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class TM1638Component : public PollingComponent {
   GPIOPin *clk_pin_;
   GPIOPin *stb_pin_;
   GPIOPin *dio_pin_;
-  uint8_t *buffer_ = new uint8_t[8];
+  uint8_t buffer_[8]{};
   tm1638_writer_t writer_{};
   std::vector<KeyListener *> listeners_{};
 };