diff --git a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/number.py b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/number.py
index c0cb00211e3..5986eab1207 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/number.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/number.py
@@ -186,6 +186,9 @@ class MqttNumber(MqttEntity, RestoreNumber):
             """Handle new MQTT messages."""
             num_value: int | float | None
             payload = str(self._value_template(msg.payload))
+            if not payload.strip():
+                _LOGGER.debug("Ignoring empty state update from '%s'", msg.topic)
+                return
             try:
                 if payload == self._config[CONF_PAYLOAD_RESET]:
                     num_value = None
diff --git a/tests/components/mqtt/test_number.py b/tests/components/mqtt/test_number.py
index f12f5eca8b6..f882209139c 100644
--- a/tests/components/mqtt/test_number.py
+++ b/tests/components/mqtt/test_number.py
@@ -189,6 +189,14 @@ async def test_value_template(
     state = hass.states.get("number.test_number")
     assert state.state == "10"
 
+    # Assert an empty value from a template is ignored
+    async_fire_mqtt_message(hass, topic, '{"other_val":12}')
+
+    await hass.async_block_till_done()
+
+    state = hass.states.get("number.test_number")
+    assert state.state == "10"
+
     async_fire_mqtt_message(hass, topic, '{"val":20.5}')
 
     await hass.async_block_till_done()