diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py b/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py
index 98096f0689..5ec1ddb6e3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py
@@ -49,11 +49,12 @@ from esphome.const import (
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, coroutine_with_priority
 
-DEPENDENCIES = ["network"]
 
-# required for WifiSecureClient to have current time to validate the certificate
-if CORE.is_esp8266:
-    DEPENDENCIES.append("time")
+def DEPENDENCIES():
+    if CORE.is_esp8266:
+        # required for WifiSecureClient to have current time to validate the certificate
+        return ["network", "time"]
+    return ["network"]
 
 
 def AUTO_LOAD():
diff --git a/esphome/loader.py b/esphome/loader.py
index d808805119..c3d5ea983c 100644
--- a/esphome/loader.py
+++ b/esphome/loader.py
@@ -70,7 +70,10 @@ class ComponentManifest:
 
     @property
     def dependencies(self) -> list[str]:
-        return getattr(self.module, "DEPENDENCIES", [])
+        dep = getattr(self.module, "DEPENDENCIES", [])
+        if callable(dep):
+            return dep()
+        return dep
 
     @property
     def conflicts_with(self) -> list[str]: