diff --git a/esphome/components/copy/select/copy_select.cpp b/esphome/components/copy/select/copy_select.cpp
index be90af5a13..bdcbd0b42c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/copy/select/copy_select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/copy/select/copy_select.cpp
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@ static const char *const TAG = "copy.select";
 void CopySelect::setup() {
   source_->add_on_state_callback([this](const std::string &value, size_t index) { this->publish_state(value); });
 
-  const auto &source_options = source_->traits.get_options();
-  traits.set_options(source_options);
+  traits.set_options(source_->traits.get_options());
 
   if (source_->has_state())
     this->publish_state(source_->state);
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
index 66cd51e15a..5961d71faa 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ optional<size_t> Select::active_index() const {
 optional<std::string> Select::at(size_t index) const {
   if (this->has_index(index)) {
     const auto &options = traits.get_options();
-    return std::string(options.at(index));
+    return std::string(options[index]);
   } else {
     return {};
   }
diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index 7b4f2ad21f..15f05b9b6f 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -322,11 +322,6 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
   T &operator[](size_t i) { return data_[i]; }
   const T &operator[](size_t i) const { return data_[i]; }
 
-  /// Access element with bounds checking (matches std::vector behavior)
-  /// Caller must ensure index is valid (i < size())
-  T &at(size_t i) { return data_[i]; }
-  const T &at(size_t i) const { return data_[i]; }
-
   // Iterator support for range-based for loops
   T *begin() { return data_; }
   T *end() { return data_ + size_; }