diff --git a/esphome/core/preferences.h b/esphome/core/preferences.h
index b3f4b77f78..ad45cd9684 100644
--- a/esphome/core/preferences.h
+++ b/esphome/core/preferences.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class ESPPreferenceObject {
   }
 
  protected:
-  ESPPreferenceBackend *backend_;
+  ESPPreferenceBackend *backend_{nullptr};
 };
 
 class ESPPreferences {