diff --git a/esphome/components/esp8266/const.py b/esphome/components/esp8266/const.py
index 162305da0c..d03dad2f0e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp8266/const.py
+++ b/esphome/components/esp8266/const.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def require_waveform() -> None:
     to save ~580 bytes of RAM (wvfState 512B + pwmState 68B).
 
     Example:
-        from esphome.components.esp8266.const import require_waveform
+        from .const import require_waveform
 
         async def to_code(config):
             require_waveform()
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp8266/waveform_stubs.cpp b/esphome/components/esp8266/waveform_stubs.cpp
index 374e472c4c..1e4df9be1e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp8266/waveform_stubs.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp8266/waveform_stubs.cpp
@@ -6,21 +6,22 @@
 // we exclude core_esp8266_waveform_pwm.cpp from the build to save ~580 bytes
 // of RAM (wvfState 512B + pwmState 68B).
 //
-// However, digitalWrite() unconditionally calls stopWaveform() and _stopPWM()
-// to ensure any active waveform is stopped before changing pin state.
-// These stubs satisfy those calls when the real waveform code is excluded.
+// These stubs satisfy calls from the Arduino GPIO code when the real
+// waveform implementation is excluded.
 
 #include <cstdint>
 
+namespace esphome::esp8266 {
+
 extern "C" {
 
-// Called by digitalWrite() to stop any waveform on a pin
+// Called by Arduino GPIO code to stop any waveform on a pin
 int stopWaveform(uint8_t pin) {
   (void) pin;
   return 1;  // Success (no waveform to stop)
 }
 
-// Called by digitalWrite() to stop any PWM on a pin
+// Called by Arduino GPIO code to stop any PWM on a pin
 bool _stopPWM(uint8_t pin) {
   (void) pin;
   return false;  // No PWM was running
@@ -28,4 +29,6 @@ bool _stopPWM(uint8_t pin) {
 
 }  // extern "C"
 
+}  // namespace esphome::esp8266
+
 #endif  // USE_ESP8266_WAVEFORM_STUBS