diff --git a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp
index eaf424fe50..ef782531c9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/pulse_counter_sensor.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "ulp_main.h"
 #include "soc/rtc_periph.h"
 #include "driver/rtc_io.h"
+#include <esp_sleep.h>
 #endif
 
 namespace esphome {
@@ -144,8 +145,7 @@ pulse_counter_t HwPulseCounterStorage::read_raw_value() {
 #ifdef CONF_USE_ULP
 
 extern const uint8_t ulp_main_bin_start[] asm("_binary_ulp_main_bin_start");
-extern const uint8_t ulp_main_bin_end[]   asm("_binary_ulp_main_bin_end");
-
+extern const uint8_t ulp_main_bin_end[] asm("_binary_ulp_main_bin_end");
 
 bool UlpPulseCounterStorage::pulse_counter_setup(InternalGPIOPin *pin) {
   this->pin = pin;
@@ -176,6 +176,13 @@ bool UlpPulseCounterStorage::pulse_counter_setup(InternalGPIOPin *pin) {
       break;
   }
 
+  if (esp_sleep_get_wakeup_cause() == ESP_SLEEP_WAKEUP_UNDEFINED) {
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Did not wake up from sleep, assuming restart or first boot and setting up ULP program");
+  } else {
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Woke up from sleep, skipping set-up of ULP program");
+    return true;
+  }
+
   esp_err_t error = ulp_load_binary(0, ulp_main_bin_start, (ulp_main_bin_end - ulp_main_bin_start) / sizeof(uint32_t));
   if (error != ESP_OK) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Loading ULP binary failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(error));
diff --git a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/ulp/pulse_cnt.S b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/ulp/pulse_cnt.S
index aec9bd3401..b6625a8db4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pulse_counter/ulp/pulse_cnt.S
+++ b/esphome/components/pulse_counter/ulp/pulse_cnt.S
@@ -50,11 +50,16 @@ debounce_counter:
 debounce_max_count:
 	.long 0
 
-	/* Total number of signal edges acquired */
+	/* Number of signal edges acquired since last read */
 	.global edge_count
 edge_count:
 	.long 0
 
+	/* Total number of signal edges acquired */
+	.global edge_count_total
+edge_count_total:
+	.long 0
+
 	/* RTC IO number used to sample the input signal.
 	   Set by main program. */
 	.global io_number
@@ -144,5 +149,10 @@ edge_detected:
 	ld r2, r3, 0
 	add r2, r2, 1
 	st r2, r3, 0
+	/* Increment edge_count_total */
+	move r3, edge_count_total
+	ld r2, r3, 0
+	add r2, r2, 1
+	st r2, r3, 0
 	/* End program */
 	halt