diff --git a/esphome/core/defines.h b/esphome/core/defines.h
index 320b40dc90..0660871d4b 100644
--- a/esphome/core/defines.h
+++ b/esphome/core/defines.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #define USE_DEEP_SLEEP
 #define USE_DEVICES
 #define USE_DISPLAY
+#define USE_ENTITY_ICON
 #define USE_ESP32_IMPROV_STATE_CALLBACK
 #define USE_EVENT
 #define USE_FAN
diff --git a/esphome/core/entity_base.cpp b/esphome/core/entity_base.cpp
index 6afd02ff65..2ea9c77a3e 100644
--- a/esphome/core/entity_base.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/entity_base.cpp
@@ -27,12 +27,22 @@ void EntityBase::set_name(const char *name) {
 
 // Entity Icon
 std::string EntityBase::get_icon() const {
+#ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   if (this->icon_c_str_ == nullptr) {
     return "";
   }
   return this->icon_c_str_;
+#else
+  return "";
+#endif
+}
+void EntityBase::set_icon(const char *icon) {
+#ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
+  this->icon_c_str_ = icon;
+#else
+  // No-op when USE_ENTITY_ICON is not defined
+#endif
 }
-void EntityBase::set_icon(const char *icon) { this->icon_c_str_ = icon; }
 
 // Entity Object ID
 std::string EntityBase::get_object_id() const {
diff --git a/esphome/core/entity_base.h b/esphome/core/entity_base.h
index 4819b66108..00b1264ed0 100644
--- a/esphome/core/entity_base.h
+++ b/esphome/core/entity_base.h
@@ -80,7 +80,9 @@ class EntityBase {
 
   StringRef name_;
   const char *object_id_c_str_{nullptr};
+#ifdef USE_ENTITY_ICON
   const char *icon_c_str_{nullptr};
+#endif
   uint32_t object_id_hash_{};
 #ifdef USE_DEVICES
   Device *device_{};
diff --git a/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py b/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
index 2442fbca4b..a3244856a2 100644
--- a/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
+++ b/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from collections.abc import Callable
 import logging
 
+import esphome.codegen as cg
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.const import (
     CONF_DEVICE_ID,
@@ -108,6 +109,8 @@ async def setup_entity(var: MockObj, config: ConfigType, platform: str) -> None:
     if CONF_INTERNAL in config:
         add(var.set_internal(config[CONF_INTERNAL]))
     if CONF_ICON in config:
+        # Add USE_ENTITY_ICON define when icons are used
+        cg.add_define("USE_ENTITY_ICON")
         add(var.set_icon(config[CONF_ICON]))
     if CONF_ENTITY_CATEGORY in config:
         add(var.set_entity_category(config[CONF_ENTITY_CATEGORY]))