diff --git a/esphome/components/max7219/max7219.cpp b/esphome/components/max7219/max7219.cpp
index b08723f1d4..d3cf6f5c48 100644
--- a/esphome/components/max7219/max7219.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/max7219/max7219.cpp
@@ -164,6 +164,10 @@ void MAX7219Component::send_to_all_(uint8_t a_register, uint8_t data) {
   this->disable();
 }
 void MAX7219Component::update() {
+  if (this->intensity_changed_) {
+    this->send_to_all_(MAX7219_REGISTER_INTENSITY, this->intensity_);
+    this->intensity_changed_ = false;
+  }
   for (uint8_t i = 0; i < this->num_chips_ * 8; i++)
     this->buffer_[i] = 0;
   if (this->writer_.has_value())
@@ -217,7 +221,13 @@ uint8_t MAX7219Component::printf(const char *format, ...) {
   return 0;
 }
 void MAX7219Component::set_writer(max7219_writer_t &&writer) { this->writer_ = writer; }
-void MAX7219Component::set_intensity(uint8_t intensity) { this->intensity_ = intensity; }
+void MAX7219Component::set_intensity(uint8_t intensity) {
+  intensity &= 0xF;
+  if (intensity != this->intensity_) {
+    this->intensity_changed_ = true;
+    this->intensity_ = intensity;
+  }
+}
 void MAX7219Component::set_num_chips(uint8_t num_chips) { this->num_chips_ = num_chips; }
 
 uint8_t MAX7219Component::strftime(uint8_t pos, const char *format, ESPTime time) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/max7219/max7219.h b/esphome/components/max7219/max7219.h
index 1b724cef69..270edf3282 100644
--- a/esphome/components/max7219/max7219.h
+++ b/esphome/components/max7219/max7219.h
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ class MAX7219Component : public PollingComponent,
   void send_byte_(uint8_t a_register, uint8_t data);
   void send_to_all_(uint8_t a_register, uint8_t data);
 
-  uint8_t intensity_{15};  /// Intensity of the display from 0 to 15 (most)
+  uint8_t intensity_{15};     // Intensity of the display from 0 to 15 (most)
+  bool intensity_changed_{};  // True if we need to re-send the intensity
   uint8_t num_chips_{1};
   uint8_t *buffer_;
   bool reverse_{false};