diff --git a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp
index 6cae4bf9d5..bd80048c64 100644
--- a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ bool SafeModeComponent::should_enter_safe_mode(uint8_t num_attempts, uint32_t en
   this->safe_mode_enable_time_ = enable_time;
   this->safe_mode_boot_is_good_after_ = boot_is_good_after;
   this->safe_mode_num_attempts_ = num_attempts;
-  this->rtc_ = global_preferences->make_preference<uint32_t>(233825507UL, false);
+  this->rtc_ = global_preferences->make_preference<uint32_t>(RTC_KEY, false);
 
 #if defined(USE_ESP32) && defined(USE_OTA_ROLLBACK)
   // Check partition state to detect if bootloader supports rollback
diff --git a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.h b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.h
index d6f669f39f..a4d27c15da 100644
--- a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.h
+++ b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.h
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 
 namespace esphome::safe_mode {
 
+/// RTC key for storing boot loop counter - used by safe_mode and preferences backends
+constexpr uint32_t RTC_KEY = 233825507UL;
+
 /// SafeModeComponent provides a safe way to recover from repeated boot failures
 class SafeModeComponent : public Component {
  public: