diff --git a/esphome/config_validation.py b/esphome/config_validation.py
index 072b4d69d1..a3627efe7b 100644
--- a/esphome/config_validation.py
+++ b/esphome/config_validation.py
@@ -350,9 +350,9 @@ def icon(value):
 
 def sub_device_id(value):
     # Lazy import to avoid circular imports
-    from esphome.core.config import SubDevice
+    from esphome.core.config import Device
 
-    validator = use_id(SubDevice)
+    validator = use_id(Device)
     return validator(value)
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/core/config.py b/esphome/core/config.py
index 8374a3d3be..95419fee70 100644
--- a/esphome/core/config.py
+++ b/esphome/core/config.py
@@ -472,9 +472,8 @@ async def to_code(config):
                 area_conf,
             )
             # Create a synthetic area for backwards compatibility
-            area_var = cg.new_Pvariable(
-                cg.ID(f"area_{area_slug}", is_declaration=True, type=Area)
-            )
+            area_id_obj = cv.ID(f"area_{area_slug}")
+            area_var = cg.new_Pvariable(area_id_obj, type_=Area)
             area_id = fnv1a_32bit_hash(area_conf)
             area_name = area_conf