diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.cpp
index b0b5501cde..92a85bdd25 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.cpp
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ void BLECharacteristic::set_value(bool &data) {
   this->set_value(temp, 1);
 }
 
-void BLECharacteristic::notify(bool notification) {
-  if (!notification) {
-    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "notification=false is not yet supported");
-    // TODO: Handle when notification=false
+void BLECharacteristic::notify(bool require_ack) {
+  if (require_ack) {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "require_ack=true is not yet supported (i.e. INDICATE is not yet supported)");
+    // TODO: Handle when require_ack=true
   }
   if (this->service_->get_server()->get_connected_client_count() == 0)
     return;
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.h b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.h
index 8837c796a5..a43ba05ac0 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.h
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ class BLECharacteristic {
   void set_write_property(bool value);
   void set_write_no_response_property(bool value);
 
-  void notify(bool notification = true);
+  void indicate() { this->notify(true); }
+  void notify(bool require_ack = false);
 
   void do_create(BLEService *service);
   void gatts_event_handler(esp_gatts_cb_event_t event, esp_gatt_if_t gatts_if, esp_ble_gatts_cb_param_t *param);