diff --git a/esphome/components/runtime_stats/__init__.py b/esphome/components/runtime_stats/__init__.py
index aff0bf086f..a36e8bfd28 100644
--- a/esphome/components/runtime_stats/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/runtime_stats/__init__.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.Schema(
     {
         cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(RuntimeStatsCollector),
         cv.Optional(
-            CONF_LOG_INTERVAL, default=60000
+            CONF_LOG_INTERVAL, default="60s"
         ): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
     }
 )
diff --git a/esphome/components/runtime_stats/runtime_stats.h b/esphome/components/runtime_stats/runtime_stats.h
index 20b0c08313..e2f8bee563 100644
--- a/esphome/components/runtime_stats/runtime_stats.h
+++ b/esphome/components/runtime_stats/runtime_stats.h
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ class ComponentRuntimeStats {
  public:
   ComponentRuntimeStats()
       : period_count_(0),
-        total_count_(0),
         period_time_ms_(0),
-        total_time_ms_(0),
         period_max_time_ms_(0),
+        total_count_(0),
+        total_time_ms_(0),
         total_max_time_ms_(0) {}
 
   void record_time(uint32_t duration_ms) {
diff --git a/esphome/core/application.cpp b/esphome/core/application.cpp
index 6face23e3c..085b4941d1 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/application.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <ranges>
+#ifdef USE_RUNTIME_STATS
+#include "esphome/components/runtime_stats/runtime_stats.h"
+#endif
 
 #ifdef USE_STATUS_LED
 #include "esphome/components/status_led/status_led.h"
diff --git a/esphome/core/application.h b/esphome/core/application.h
index 2cdcdf9e6a..f2b5cb5c89 100644
--- a/esphome/core/application.h
+++ b/esphome/core/application.h
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/preferences.h"
-#ifdef USE_RUNTIME_STATS
-#include "esphome/components/runtime_stats/runtime_stats.h"
-#endif
 #include "esphome/core/scheduler.h"
 
 #ifdef USE_DEVICES
diff --git a/esphome/core/component.cpp b/esphome/core/component.cpp
index 8dbd054602..3b1120bdd7 100644
--- a/esphome/core/component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/component.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#ifdef USE_RUNTIME_STATS
+#include "esphome/components/runtime_stats/runtime_stats.h"
+#endif
 
 namespace esphome {
 
diff --git a/esphome/core/component.h b/esphome/core/component.h
index c7342cd563..3734473a02 100644
--- a/esphome/core/component.h
+++ b/esphome/core/component.h
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@
 #include <string>
 
 #include "esphome/core/optional.h"
-#ifdef USE_RUNTIME_STATS
-#include "esphome/components/runtime_stats/runtime_stats.h"
-#endif
 
 namespace esphome {
 
diff --git a/tests/components/runtime_stats/common.yaml b/tests/components/runtime_stats/common.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b434d1b5a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/runtime_stats/common.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# Test runtime_stats component with default configuration
+runtime_stats:
diff --git a/tests/components/runtime_stats/test.esp32-ard.yaml b/tests/components/runtime_stats/test.esp32-ard.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dade44d145
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/runtime_stats/test.esp32-ard.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<<: !include common.yaml