diff --git a/esphome/components/light/light_call.cpp b/esphome/components/light/light_call.cpp
index 8365ac77c..b15ff84b9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/light/light_call.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/light/light_call.cpp
@@ -52,8 +52,10 @@ static void log_invalid_parameter(const char *name, const LogString *message) {
   }
 
 static const LogString *color_mode_to_human(ColorMode color_mode) {
-  if (color_mode == ColorMode::UNKNOWN)
-    return LOG_STR("Unknown");
+  if (color_mode == ColorMode::ON_OFF)
+    return LOG_STR("On/Off");
+  if (color_mode == ColorMode::BRIGHTNESS)
+    return LOG_STR("Brightness");
   if (color_mode == ColorMode::WHITE)
     return LOG_STR("White");
   if (color_mode == ColorMode::COLOR_TEMPERATURE)
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ static const LogString *color_mode_to_human(ColorMode color_mode) {
     return LOG_STR("RGB + cold/warm white");
   if (color_mode == ColorMode::RGB_COLOR_TEMPERATURE)
     return LOG_STR("RGB + color temperature");
-  return LOG_STR("");
+  return LOG_STR("Unknown");
 }
 
 // Helper to log percentage values