diff --git a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.h b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.h
index f2e83142b3..b075722e1b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.h
+++ b/esphome/components/i2s_audio/speaker/i2s_audio_speaker.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class I2SAudioSpeaker : public Component, public speaker::Speaker, public I2SAud
 #endif
   void set_external_dac_channels(uint8_t channels) { this->external_dac_channels_ = channels; }
 
-  void start();
+  void start() override;
   void stop() override;
 
   size_t play(const uint8_t *data, size_t length) override;
diff --git a/esphome/components/speaker/speaker.h b/esphome/components/speaker/speaker.h
index 53f97da5ac..3f520e3c5e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/speaker/speaker.h
+++ b/esphome/components/speaker/speaker.h
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@ enum State : uint8_t {
 class Speaker {
  public:
   virtual size_t play(const uint8_t *data, size_t length) = 0;
-  virtual size_t play(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) { return this->play(data.data(), data.size()); }
+  size_t play(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) { return this->play(data.data(), data.size()); }
 
+  virtual void start() = 0;
   virtual void stop() = 0;
 
   bool is_running() const { return this->state_ == STATE_RUNNING; }