diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 465cddfe24..4fb229aa9b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -1578,10 +1578,12 @@ bool APIConnection::send_buffer(ProtoWriteBuffer buffer, uint8_t message_type) {
   // Do not set last_traffic_ on send
   return true;
 }
+#ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
 void APIConnection::on_unauthenticated_access() {
   this->on_fatal_error();
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "%s access without authentication", this->get_client_combined_info().c_str());
 }
+#endif
 void APIConnection::on_no_setup_connection() {
   this->on_fatal_error();
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "%s access without full connection", this->get_client_combined_info().c_str());
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
index eed9f78b2f..cee0b091ae 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.h
@@ -232,7 +232,9 @@ class APIConnection : public APIServerConnection {
   }
   uint8_t get_log_subscription_level() const { return this->flags_.log_subscription; }
   void on_fatal_error() override;
+#ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
   void on_unauthenticated_access() override;
+#endif
   void on_no_setup_connection() override;
   ProtoWriteBuffer create_buffer(uint32_t reserve_size) override {
     // FIXME: ensure no recursive writes can happen
diff --git a/esphome/components/api/proto.h b/esphome/components/api/proto.h
index b3cdce8158..8b6394e18e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/proto.h
+++ b/esphome/components/api/proto.h
@@ -859,7 +859,9 @@ class ProtoService {
   virtual bool is_authenticated() = 0;
   virtual bool is_connection_setup() = 0;
   virtual void on_fatal_error() = 0;
+#ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
   virtual void on_unauthenticated_access() = 0;
+#endif
   virtual void on_no_setup_connection() = 0;
   /**
    * Create a buffer with a reserved size.
@@ -900,10 +902,12 @@ class ProtoService {
     if (!this->check_connection_setup_()) {
       return false;
     }
+#ifdef USE_API_PASSWORD
     if (!this->is_authenticated()) {
       this->on_unauthenticated_access();
       return false;
     }
+#endif
     return true;
   }
 };