diff --git a/esphome/components/image/__init__.py b/esphome/components/image/__init__.py
index b23ed3445a..c275136427 100644
--- a/esphome/components/image/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/image/__init__.py
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ import re
 import requests
 from magic import Magic
 
-from PIL import Image
-
 from esphome import core
 from esphome.components import font
 from esphome import external_files
@@ -267,6 +265,9 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(font.validate_pillow_installed, IMAGE_SCHEMA)
 
 
 def load_svg_image(file: bytes, resize: tuple[int, int]):
+    # Local import only to allow "validate_pillow_installed" to run *before* importing it
+    from PIL import Image
+
     # This import is only needed in case of SVG images; adding it
     # to the top would force configurations not using SVG to also have it
     # installed for no reason.
@@ -286,6 +287,9 @@ def load_svg_image(file: bytes, resize: tuple[int, int]):
 
 
 async def to_code(config):
+    # Local import only to allow "validate_pillow_installed" to run *before* importing it
+    from PIL import Image
+
     conf_file = config[CONF_FILE]
 
     if conf_file[CONF_SOURCE] == SOURCE_LOCAL: