diff --git a/esphome/components/template/number/__init__.py b/esphome/components/template/number/__init__.py
index 22bbaacc15..887f6b15ad 100644
--- a/esphome/components/template/number/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/template/number/__init__.py
@@ -29,12 +29,16 @@ def validate_min_max(config):
 
 def validate(config):
     if CONF_LAMBDA in config:
-        if CONF_OPTIMISTIC in config:
+        if config[CONF_OPTIMISTIC]:
             raise cv.Invalid("optimistic cannot be used with lambda")
         if CONF_INITIAL_VALUE in config:
             raise cv.Invalid("initial_value cannot be used with lambda")
         if CONF_RESTORE_VALUE in config:
             raise cv.Invalid("restore_value cannot be used with lambda")
+    if not config[CONF_OPTIMISTIC] and CONF_SET_ACTION not in config:
+        raise cv.Invalid(
+            "Either optimistic mode must be enabled, or set_action must be set, to handle the number being set."
+        )
     return config
 
 
@@ -46,7 +50,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             cv.Required(CONF_MIN_VALUE): cv.float_,
             cv.Required(CONF_STEP): cv.positive_float,
             cv.Optional(CONF_LAMBDA): cv.returning_lambda,
-            cv.Optional(CONF_OPTIMISTIC): cv.boolean,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_OPTIMISTIC, default=False): cv.boolean,
             cv.Optional(CONF_SET_ACTION): automation.validate_automation(single=True),
             cv.Optional(CONF_INITIAL_VALUE): cv.float_,
             cv.Optional(CONF_RESTORE_VALUE): cv.boolean,
@@ -75,8 +79,7 @@ async def to_code(config):
         cg.add(var.set_template(template_))
 
     else:
-        if CONF_OPTIMISTIC in config:
-            cg.add(var.set_optimistic(config[CONF_OPTIMISTIC]))
+        cg.add(var.set_optimistic(config[CONF_OPTIMISTIC]))
         if CONF_INITIAL_VALUE in config:
             cg.add(var.set_initial_value(config[CONF_INITIAL_VALUE]))
         if CONF_RESTORE_VALUE in config:
diff --git a/esphome/components/template/select/__init__.py b/esphome/components/template/select/__init__.py
index 3a707628a8..6562beb7f8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/template/select/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/template/select/__init__.py
@@ -30,6 +30,21 @@ def validate_initial_value_in_options(config):
     return config
 
 
+def validate(config):
+    if CONF_LAMBDA in config:
+        if config[CONF_OPTIMISTIC]:
+            raise cv.Invalid("optimistic cannot be used with lambda")
+        if CONF_INITIAL_OPTION in config:
+            raise cv.Invalid("initial_value cannot be used with lambda")
+        if CONF_RESTORE_VALUE in config:
+            raise cv.Invalid("restore_value cannot be used with lambda")
+    if not config[CONF_OPTIMISTIC] and CONF_SET_ACTION not in config:
+        raise cv.Invalid(
+            "Either optimistic mode must be enabled, or set_action must be set, to handle the option being set."
+        )
+    return config
+
+
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
     select.SELECT_SCHEMA.extend(
         {
@@ -38,13 +53,14 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
                 cv.ensure_list(cv.string_strict), cv.Length(min=1)
             ),
             cv.Optional(CONF_LAMBDA): cv.returning_lambda,
-            cv.Optional(CONF_OPTIMISTIC): cv.boolean,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_OPTIMISTIC, default=False): cv.boolean,
             cv.Optional(CONF_SET_ACTION): automation.validate_automation(single=True),
             cv.Optional(CONF_INITIAL_OPTION): cv.string_strict,
             cv.Optional(CONF_RESTORE_VALUE): cv.boolean,
         }
     ).extend(cv.polling_component_schema("60s")),
     validate_initial_value_in_options,
+    validate,
 )
 
 
@@ -60,9 +76,7 @@ async def to_code(config):
         cg.add(var.set_template(template_))
 
     else:
-        if CONF_OPTIMISTIC in config:
-            cg.add(var.set_optimistic(config[CONF_OPTIMISTIC]))
-
+        cg.add(var.set_optimistic(config[CONF_OPTIMISTIC]))
         cg.add(var.set_initial_option(config[CONF_INITIAL_OPTION]))
 
         if CONF_RESTORE_VALUE in config:
diff --git a/esphome/components/template/switch/__init__.py b/esphome/components/template/switch/__init__.py
index b00710dfb7..6095a7c561 100644
--- a/esphome/components/template/switch/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/template/switch/__init__.py
@@ -16,17 +16,38 @@ from .. import template_ns
 
 TemplateSwitch = template_ns.class_("TemplateSwitch", switch.Switch, cg.Component)
 
-CONFIG_SCHEMA = switch.SWITCH_SCHEMA.extend(
-    {
-        cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(TemplateSwitch),
-        cv.Optional(CONF_LAMBDA): cv.returning_lambda,
-        cv.Optional(CONF_OPTIMISTIC, default=False): cv.boolean,
-        cv.Optional(CONF_ASSUMED_STATE, default=False): cv.boolean,
-        cv.Optional(CONF_TURN_OFF_ACTION): automation.validate_automation(single=True),
-        cv.Optional(CONF_TURN_ON_ACTION): automation.validate_automation(single=True),
-        cv.Optional(CONF_RESTORE_STATE, default=False): cv.boolean,
-    }
-).extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA)
+
+def validate(config):
+    if (
+        not config[CONF_OPTIMISTIC]
+        and CONF_TURN_ON_ACTION not in config
+        and CONF_TURN_OFF_ACTION not in config
+    ):
+        raise cv.Invalid(
+            "Either optimistic mode must be enabled, or turn_on_action or turn_off_action must be set, "
+            "to handle the switch being set."
+        )
+    return config
+
+
+CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
+    switch.SWITCH_SCHEMA.extend(
+        {
+            cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(TemplateSwitch),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_LAMBDA): cv.returning_lambda,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_OPTIMISTIC, default=False): cv.boolean,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_ASSUMED_STATE, default=False): cv.boolean,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_TURN_OFF_ACTION): automation.validate_automation(
+                single=True
+            ),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_TURN_ON_ACTION): automation.validate_automation(
+                single=True
+            ),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_RESTORE_STATE, default=False): cv.boolean,
+        }
+    ).extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA),
+    validate,
+)
 
 
 async def to_code(config):
diff --git a/tests/test1.yaml b/tests/test1.yaml
index f26e441192..bfdf9c3bea 100644
--- a/tests/test1.yaml
+++ b/tests/test1.yaml
@@ -1862,6 +1862,7 @@ switch:
       inverted: False
   - platform: template
     id: ble1_status
+    optimistic: true
 
 fan:
   - platform: binary