diff --git a/esphome/core/application.cpp b/esphome/core/application.cpp
index f3d9fac0da..9ffac728bb 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/application.cpp
@@ -137,8 +137,10 @@ void Application::setup() {
 
   ESP_LOGI(TAG, "setup() finished successfully!");
 
+#ifdef USE_SETUP_PRIORITY_OVERRIDE
   // Clear setup priority overrides to free memory
   clear_setup_priority_overrides();
+#endif
 
 #if defined(USE_SOCKET_SELECT_SUPPORT) && defined(USE_WAKE_LOOP_THREADSAFE)
   // Set up wake socket for waking main loop from tasks
diff --git a/esphome/core/component.cpp b/esphome/core/component.cpp
index 2b33c3f00e..e9eca0589a 100644
--- a/esphome/core/component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/component.cpp
@@ -41,20 +41,23 @@ struct ComponentErrorMessage {
   bool is_flash_ptr;
 };
 
+#ifdef USE_SETUP_PRIORITY_OVERRIDE
 struct ComponentPriorityOverride {
   const Component *component;
   float priority;
 };
 
+// Setup priority overrides - freed after setup completes
+// Using raw pointer instead of unique_ptr to avoid global constructor/destructor overhead
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+std::vector<ComponentPriorityOverride> *setup_priority_overrides = nullptr;
+#endif
+
 // Error messages for failed components
 // Using raw pointer instead of unique_ptr to avoid global constructor/destructor overhead
 // This is never freed as error messages persist for the lifetime of the device
 // NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
 std::vector<ComponentErrorMessage> *component_error_messages = nullptr;
-// Setup priority overrides - freed after setup completes
-// Using raw pointer instead of unique_ptr to avoid global constructor/destructor overhead
-// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-std::vector<ComponentPriorityOverride> *setup_priority_overrides = nullptr;
 
 // Helper to store error messages - reduces duplication between deprecated and new API
 // Remove before 2026.6.0 when deprecated const char* API is removed
@@ -461,6 +464,7 @@ void log_update_interval(const char *tag, PollingComponent *component) {
   }
 }
 float Component::get_actual_setup_priority() const {
+#ifdef USE_SETUP_PRIORITY_OVERRIDE
   // Check if there's an override in the global vector
   if (setup_priority_overrides) {
     // Linear search is fine for small n (typically < 5 overrides)
@@ -470,14 +474,14 @@ float Component::get_actual_setup_priority() const {
       }
     }
   }
+#endif
   return this->get_setup_priority();
 }
+#ifdef USE_SETUP_PRIORITY_OVERRIDE
 void Component::set_setup_priority(float priority) {
   // Lazy allocate the vector if needed
   if (!setup_priority_overrides) {
     setup_priority_overrides = new std::vector<ComponentPriorityOverride>();
-    // Reserve some space to avoid reallocations (most configs have < 10 overrides)
-    setup_priority_overrides->reserve(10);
   }
 
   // Check if this component already has an override
@@ -491,6 +495,7 @@ void Component::set_setup_priority(float priority) {
   // Add new override
   setup_priority_overrides->emplace_back(ComponentPriorityOverride{this, priority});
 }
+#endif
 
 bool Component::has_overridden_loop() const {
 #if defined(USE_HOST) || defined(CLANG_TIDY)
@@ -557,10 +562,12 @@ uint32_t WarnIfComponentBlockingGuard::finish() {
   return curr_time;
 }
 
+#ifdef USE_SETUP_PRIORITY_OVERRIDE
 void clear_setup_priority_overrides() {
   // Free the setup priority map completely
   delete setup_priority_overrides;
   setup_priority_overrides = nullptr;
 }
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/core/component.h b/esphome/core/component.h
index af07269fb2..dc67ff10c9 100644
--- a/esphome/core/component.h
+++ b/esphome/core/component.h
@@ -564,6 +564,7 @@ class WarnIfComponentBlockingGuard {
 };
 
 // Function to clear setup priority overrides after all components are set up
+// Only has an implementation when USE_SETUP_PRIORITY_OVERRIDE is defined
 void clear_setup_priority_overrides();
 
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/core/defines.h b/esphome/core/defines.h
index 7018a66b73..693b223147 100644
--- a/esphome/core/defines.h
+++ b/esphome/core/defines.h
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@
 #define USE_SAFE_MODE_CALLBACK
 #define USE_SELECT
 #define USE_SENSOR
+#define USE_SETUP_PRIORITY_OVERRIDE
 #define USE_STATUS_LED
 #define USE_STATUS_SENSOR
 #define USE_SWITCH
diff --git a/esphome/cpp_helpers.py b/esphome/cpp_helpers.py
index 2698b9b3d5..954a28d3d1 100644
--- a/esphome/cpp_helpers.py
+++ b/esphome/cpp_helpers.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, ID, coroutine
 from esphome.coroutine import FakeAwaitable
-from esphome.cpp_generator import LogStringLiteral, add, get_variable
+from esphome.cpp_generator import LogStringLiteral, add, add_define, get_variable
 from esphome.cpp_types import App
 from esphome.types import ConfigFragmentType, ConfigType
 from esphome.util import Registry, RegistryEntry
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ async def register_component(var, config):
         )
     CORE.component_ids.remove(id_)
     if CONF_SETUP_PRIORITY in config:
+        add_define("USE_SETUP_PRIORITY_OVERRIDE")
         add(var.set_setup_priority(config[CONF_SETUP_PRIORITY]))
     if CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL in config:
         add(var.set_update_interval(config[CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL]))