diff --git a/esphome/components/ethernet/__init__.py b/esphome/components/ethernet/__init__.py
index 9873a9af10..23436cc5be 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ethernet/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/ethernet/__init__.py
@@ -435,11 +435,13 @@ async def to_code(config):
         cg.add_library("WiFi", None)
 
     if on_connect_config := config.get(CONF_ON_CONNECT):
+        cg.add_define("USE_ETHERNET_CONNECT_TRIGGER")
         await automation.build_automation(
             var.get_connect_trigger(), [], on_connect_config
         )
 
     if on_disconnect_config := config.get(CONF_ON_DISCONNECT):
+        cg.add_define("USE_ETHERNET_DISCONNECT_TRIGGER")
         await automation.build_automation(
             var.get_disconnect_trigger(), [], on_disconnect_config
         )
diff --git a/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.cpp b/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.cpp
index 54b4567539..db72fcc38b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.cpp
@@ -309,7 +309,9 @@ void EthernetComponent::loop() {
 
         this->dump_connect_params_();
         this->status_clear_warning();
+#ifdef USE_ETHERNET_CONNECT_TRIGGER
         this->connect_trigger_->trigger();
+#endif
       } else if (now - this->connect_begin_ > 15000) {
         ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Connecting failed; reconnecting");
         this->start_connect_();
@@ -319,12 +321,16 @@ void EthernetComponent::loop() {
       if (!this->started_) {
         ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Stopped connection");
         this->state_ = EthernetComponentState::STOPPED;
+#ifdef USE_ETHERNET_DISCONNECT_TRIGGER
         this->disconnect_trigger_->trigger();
+#endif
       } else if (!this->connected_) {
         ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Connection lost; reconnecting");
         this->state_ = EthernetComponentState::CONNECTING;
         this->start_connect_();
+#ifdef USE_ETHERNET_DISCONNECT_TRIGGER
         this->disconnect_trigger_->trigger();
+#endif
       } else {
         this->finish_connect_();
         // When connected and stable, disable the loop to save CPU cycles
diff --git a/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.h b/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.h
index 4b2e622225..29712b3cee 100644
--- a/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/ethernet/ethernet_component.h
@@ -120,9 +120,12 @@ class EthernetComponent : public Component {
   void add_ip_state_listener(EthernetIPStateListener *listener) { this->ip_state_listeners_.push_back(listener); }
 #endif
 
+#ifdef USE_ETHERNET_CONNECT_TRIGGER
   Trigger<> *get_connect_trigger() const { return this->connect_trigger_; }
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ETHERNET_DISCONNECT_TRIGGER
   Trigger<> *get_disconnect_trigger() const { return this->disconnect_trigger_; }
-
+#endif
  protected:
   static void eth_event_handler(void *arg, esp_event_base_t event_base, int32_t event_id, void *event_data);
   static void got_ip_event_handler(void *arg, esp_event_base_t event_base, int32_t event_id, void *event_data);
@@ -194,9 +197,12 @@ class EthernetComponent : public Component {
   StaticVector<EthernetIPStateListener *, ESPHOME_ETHERNET_IP_STATE_LISTENERS> ip_state_listeners_;
 #endif
 
+#ifdef USE_ETHERNET_CONNECT_TRIGGER
   Trigger<> *connect_trigger_{new Trigger<>()};
+#endif
+#ifdef USE_ETHERNET_DISCONNECT_TRIGGER
   Trigger<> *disconnect_trigger_{new Trigger<>()};
-
+#endif
  private:
   // Stores a pointer to a string literal (static storage duration).
   // ONLY set from Python-generated code with string literals - never dynamic strings.