diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/display.py b/esphome/components/nextion/display.py
index 0aa5efeba7..420f8f69c5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/display.py
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/display.py
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ async def to_code(config):
         cg.add(var.set_wake_up_page(config[CONF_WAKE_UP_PAGE]))
 
     if CONF_START_UP_PAGE in config:
+        cg.add_define("USE_NEXTION_CONF_START_UP_PAGE")
         cg.add(var.set_start_up_page(config[CONF_START_UP_PAGE]))
 
     cg.add(var.set_auto_wake_on_touch(config[CONF_AUTO_WAKE_ON_TOUCH]))
diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
index bb75385d8c..bcb1aced9a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.cpp
@@ -167,13 +167,15 @@ void Nextion::dump_config() {
     ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Touch Timeout:  %" PRIu16, this->touch_sleep_timeout_);
   }
 
-  if (this->wake_up_page_ != -1) {
-    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Wake Up Page:   %d", this->wake_up_page_);
+  if (this->wake_up_page_ != 255) {
+    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Wake Up Page:   %u", this->wake_up_page_);
   }
 
-  if (this->start_up_page_ != -1) {
-    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Start Up Page:  %d", this->start_up_page_);
+#ifdef USE_NEXTION_CONF_START_UP_PAGE
+  if (this->start_up_page_ != 255) {
+    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Start Up Page:  %u", this->start_up_page_);
   }
+#endif  // USE_NEXTION_CONF_START_UP_PAGE
 
 #ifdef USE_NEXTION_COMMAND_SPACING
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Cmd spacing:      %u ms", this->command_pacer_.get_spacing());
@@ -301,12 +303,14 @@ void Nextion::loop() {
       this->set_backlight_brightness(this->brightness_.value());
     }
 
+#ifdef USE_NEXTION_CONF_START_UP_PAGE
     // Check if a startup page has been set and send the command
-    if (this->start_up_page_ >= 0) {
+    if (this->start_up_page_ != 255) {
       this->goto_page(this->start_up_page_);
     }
+#endif  // USE_NEXTION_CONF_START_UP_PAGE
 
-    if (this->wake_up_page_ >= 0) {
+    if (this->wake_up_page_ != 255) {
       this->set_wake_up_page(this->wake_up_page_);
     }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.h b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.h
index 0b77d234f5..f5fa26b98c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.h
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion.h
@@ -1194,7 +1194,7 @@ class Nextion : public NextionBase, public PollingComponent, public uart::UARTDe
 
   /**
    * Sets which page Nextion loads when exiting sleep mode. Note this can be set even when Nextion is in sleep mode.
-   * @param wake_up_page The page id, from 0 to the last page in Nextion. Set -1 (not set to any existing page) to
+   * @param wake_up_page The page id, from 0 to the last page in Nextion. Set 255 (not set to any existing page) to
    * wakes up to current page.
    *
    * Example:
@@ -1204,11 +1204,12 @@ class Nextion : public NextionBase, public PollingComponent, public uart::UARTDe
    *
    * The display will wake up to page 2.
    */
-  void set_wake_up_page(int16_t wake_up_page = -1);
+  void set_wake_up_page(uint8_t wake_up_page = 255);
 
+#ifdef USE_NEXTION_CONF_START_UP_PAGE
   /**
    * Sets which page Nextion loads when connecting to ESPHome.
-   * @param start_up_page The page id, from 0 to the last page in Nextion. Set -1 (not set to any existing page) to
+   * @param start_up_page The page id, from 0 to the last page in Nextion. Set 255 (not set to any existing page) to
    * wakes up to current page.
    *
    * Example:
@@ -1218,7 +1219,8 @@ class Nextion : public NextionBase, public PollingComponent, public uart::UARTDe
    *
    * The display will go to page 2 when it establishes a connection to ESPHome.
    */
-  void set_start_up_page(int16_t start_up_page = -1) { this->start_up_page_ = start_up_page; }
+  void set_start_up_page(uint8_t start_up_page = 255) { this->start_up_page_ = start_up_page; }
+#endif  // USE_NEXTION_CONF_START_UP_PAGE
 
   /**
    * Sets if Nextion should auto-wake from sleep when touch press occurs.
@@ -1344,8 +1346,10 @@ class Nextion : public NextionBase, public PollingComponent, public uart::UARTDe
   void process_serial_();
   bool is_updating_ = false;
   uint16_t touch_sleep_timeout_ = 0;
-  int16_t wake_up_page_ = -1;
-  int16_t start_up_page_ = -1;
+  uint8_t wake_up_page_ = 255;
+#ifdef USE_NEXTION_CONF_START_UP_PAGE
+  uint8_t start_up_page_ = 255;
+#endif  // USE_NEXTION_CONF_START_UP_PAGE
   bool auto_wake_on_touch_ = true;
   bool exit_reparse_on_start_ = false;
   bool skip_connection_handshake_ = false;
diff --git a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_commands.cpp b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_commands.cpp
index 84aacd1868..f8307c6c4b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_commands.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/nextion/nextion_commands.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ static const char *const TAG = "nextion";
 // Sleep safe commands
 void Nextion::soft_reset() { this->send_command_("rest"); }
 
-void Nextion::set_wake_up_page(int16_t wake_up_page) {
+void Nextion::set_wake_up_page(uint8_t wake_up_page) {
   this->wake_up_page_ = wake_up_page;
   this->add_no_result_to_queue_with_set_internal_("wake_up_page", "wup", wake_up_page, true);
 }