diff --git a/esphome/components/time/real_time_clock.h b/esphome/components/time/real_time_clock.h
index a17168ae6f..4dea7f768b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/time/real_time_clock.h
+++ b/esphome/components/time/real_time_clock.h
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ class RealTimeClock : public PollingComponent {
   /// Set the time zone.
   void set_timezone(const std::string &tz) { this->timezone_ = tz; }
 
+  void set_time(uint32_t epoch) { this->synchronize_epoch_(epoch); }
+
   /// Get the time zone currently in use.
   std::string get_timezone() { return this->timezone_; }