diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble/__init__.py b/esphome/components/esp32_ble/__init__.py
index ced7e3fec9..dcc3ce71cf 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble/__init__.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ from esphome.core import CORE, CoroPriority, TimePeriod, coroutine_with_priority
 import esphome.final_validate as fv
 
 DEPENDENCIES = ["esp32"]
-AUTO_LOAD = ["socket"]
 CODEOWNERS = ["@jesserockz", "@Rapsssito", "@bdraco"]
 DOMAIN = "esp32_ble"
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/socket/__init__.py b/esphome/components/socket/__init__.py
index 49e074a6ee..e364da78f8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/socket/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/socket/__init__.py
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ def require_wake_loop_threadsafe() -> None:
     This enables the shared UDP loopback socket mechanism (~208 bytes RAM).
     The socket is shared across all components that use this feature.
 
+    This call is a no-op if networking is not enabled in the configuration.
+
     IMPORTANT: This is for background thread context only, NOT ISR context.
     Socket operations are not safe to call from ISR handlers.
 
@@ -56,8 +58,11 @@ def require_wake_loop_threadsafe() -> None:
         async def to_code(config):
             socket.require_wake_loop_threadsafe()
     """
+
     # Only set up once (idempotent - multiple components can call this)
-    if not CORE.data.get(KEY_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE_REQUIRED, False):
+    if CORE.has_networking and not CORE.data.get(
+        KEY_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE_REQUIRED, False
+    ):
         CORE.data[KEY_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE_REQUIRED] = True
         cg.add_define("USE_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE")
         # Consume 1 socket for the shared wake notification socket
diff --git a/esphome/core/__init__.py b/esphome/core/__init__.py
index 3baec93186..70593d8153 100644
--- a/esphome/core/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/core/__init__.py
@@ -721,6 +721,25 @@ class EsphomeCore:
     def config_filename(self) -> str:
         return self.config_path.name
 
+    def has_at_least_one_component(self, *components: str) -> bool:
+        """
+        Are any of the given components configured?
+        :param components: component names
+        :return: true if so
+        """
+        if self.config is None:
+            raise ValueError("Config has not been loaded yet")
+
+        return any(component in self.config for component in components)
+
+    @property
+    def has_networking(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        Is a network component configured?
+        :return: true if so
+        """
+        return self.has_at_least_one_component("wifi", "ethernet", "openthread")
+
     def relative_config_path(self, *path: str | Path) -> Path:
         path_ = Path(*path).expanduser()
         return self.config_dir / path_
diff --git a/tests/components/socket/test_wake_loop_threadsafe.py b/tests/components/socket/test_wake_loop_threadsafe.py
index 45e5ea2211..b4bc95176d 100644
--- a/tests/components/socket/test_wake_loop_threadsafe.py
+++ b/tests/components/socket/test_wake_loop_threadsafe.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from esphome.core import CORE
 
 def test_require_wake_loop_threadsafe__first_call() -> None:
     """Test that first call sets up define and consumes socket."""
+    CORE.config = {"wifi": True}
     socket.require_wake_loop_threadsafe()
 
     # Verify CORE.data was updated
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ def test_require_wake_loop_threadsafe__idempotent() -> None:
     """Test that subsequent calls are idempotent."""
     # Set up initial state as if already called
     CORE.data[socket.KEY_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE_REQUIRED] = True
+    CORE.config = {"ethernet": True}
 
     # Call again - should not raise or fail
     socket.require_wake_loop_threadsafe()
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ def test_require_wake_loop_threadsafe__idempotent() -> None:
 def test_require_wake_loop_threadsafe__multiple_calls() -> None:
     """Test that multiple calls only set up once."""
     # Call three times
+    CORE.config = {"openthread": True}
     socket.require_wake_loop_threadsafe()
     socket.require_wake_loop_threadsafe()
     socket.require_wake_loop_threadsafe()
@@ -40,3 +43,35 @@ def test_require_wake_loop_threadsafe__multiple_calls() -> None:
 
     # Verify the define was added (only once, but we can just check it exists)
     assert any(d.name == "USE_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE" for d in CORE.defines)
+
+
+def test_require_wake_loop_threadsafe__no_networking() -> None:
+    """Test that wake loop is NOT configured when no networking is configured."""
+    # Set up config without any networking components
+    CORE.config = {"esphome": {"name": "test"}, "logger": {}}
+
+    # Call require_wake_loop_threadsafe
+    socket.require_wake_loop_threadsafe()
+
+    # Verify CORE.data flag was NOT set (since has_networking returns False)
+    assert socket.KEY_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE_REQUIRED not in CORE.data
+
+    # Verify the define was NOT added
+    assert not any(d.name == "USE_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE" for d in CORE.defines)
+
+
+def test_require_wake_loop_threadsafe__no_networking_does_not_consume_socket() -> None:
+    """Test that no socket is consumed when no networking is configured."""
+    # Set up config without any networking components
+    CORE.config = {"logger": {}}
+
+    # Track initial socket consumer state
+    initial_consumers = CORE.data.get(socket.KEY_SOCKET_CONSUMERS, {})
+
+    # Call require_wake_loop_threadsafe
+    socket.require_wake_loop_threadsafe()
+
+    # Verify no socket was consumed
+    consumers = CORE.data.get(socket.KEY_SOCKET_CONSUMERS, {})
+    assert "socket.wake_loop_threadsafe" not in consumers
+    assert consumers == initial_consumers
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_core.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_core.py
index e52cb24831..1fc8dab358 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_core.py
@@ -718,3 +718,65 @@ class TestEsphomeCore:
         # Even though "web_server" is in loaded_integrations due to the platform,
         # web_port must return None because the full web_server component is not configured
         assert target.web_port is None
+
+    def test_has_at_least_one_component__none_configured(self, target):
+        """Test has_at_least_one_component returns False when none of the components are configured."""
+        target.config = {const.CONF_ESPHOME: {"name": "test"}, "logger": {}}
+
+        assert target.has_at_least_one_component("wifi", "ethernet") is False
+
+    def test_has_at_least_one_component__one_configured(self, target):
+        """Test has_at_least_one_component returns True when one component is configured."""
+        target.config = {const.CONF_WIFI: {}, "logger": {}}
+
+        assert target.has_at_least_one_component("wifi", "ethernet") is True
+
+    def test_has_at_least_one_component__multiple_configured(self, target):
+        """Test has_at_least_one_component returns True when multiple components are configured."""
+        target.config = {
+            const.CONF_WIFI: {},
+            const.CONF_ETHERNET: {},
+            "logger": {},
+        }
+
+        assert (
+            target.has_at_least_one_component("wifi", "ethernet", "bluetooth") is True
+        )
+
+    def test_has_at_least_one_component__single_component(self, target):
+        """Test has_at_least_one_component works with a single component."""
+        target.config = {const.CONF_MQTT: {}}
+
+        assert target.has_at_least_one_component("mqtt") is True
+        assert target.has_at_least_one_component("wifi") is False
+
+    def test_has_at_least_one_component__config_not_loaded(self, target):
+        """Test has_at_least_one_component raises ValueError when config is not loaded."""
+        target.config = None
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Config has not been loaded yet"):
+            target.has_at_least_one_component("wifi")
+
+    def test_has_networking__with_wifi(self, target):
+        """Test has_networking returns True when wifi is configured."""
+        target.config = {const.CONF_WIFI: {}}
+
+        assert target.has_networking is True
+
+    def test_has_networking__with_ethernet(self, target):
+        """Test has_networking returns True when ethernet is configured."""
+        target.config = {const.CONF_ETHERNET: {}}
+
+        assert target.has_networking is True
+
+    def test_has_networking__with_openthread(self, target):
+        """Test has_networking returns True when openthread is configured."""
+        target.config = {const.CONF_OPENTHREAD: {}}
+
+        assert target.has_networking is True
+
+    def test_has_networking__without_networking(self, target):
+        """Test has_networking returns False when no networking component is configured."""
+        target.config = {const.CONF_ESPHOME: {"name": "test"}, "logger": {}}
+
+        assert target.has_networking is False