diff --git a/esphome/components/openthread/__init__.py b/esphome/components/openthread/__init__.py
index ac5b9c24b8..9919f93a59 100644
--- a/esphome/components/openthread/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/openthread/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ CONF_PANID = "panid"
 CONF_EXTPANID = "extpanid"
 CONF_MDNS_ID = "mdns_id"
 CONF_SRP_ID = "srp_id"
+CONF_FORCE_DATASET = "force_dataset"
 
 
 def set_sdkconfig_options(config):
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             cv.Optional(CONF_EXTPANID): cv.string_strict,
             cv.Optional(CONF_NETWORK_NAME): cv.string_strict,
             cv.Optional(CONF_PSKC): cv.string_strict,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_FORCE_DATASET): cv.boolean,
         }
     ),
 )
diff --git a/esphome/components/openthread/openthread_esp.cpp b/esphome/components/openthread/openthread_esp.cpp
index 6f79299818..f7601c69f5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/openthread/openthread_esp.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/openthread/openthread_esp.cpp
@@ -114,9 +114,13 @@ void OpenThreadComponent::ot_main() {
 #endif
   ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Activating dataset...");
   otOperationalDatasetTlvs dataset;
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_FORCE_DATASET
+  ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_openthread_auto_start(NULL));
+#else
   otError error = otDatasetGetActiveTlvs(esp_openthread_get_instance(), &dataset);
   ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_openthread_auto_start((error == OT_ERROR_NONE) ? &dataset : NULL));
-
+#endif
   esp_openthread_launch_mainloop();
 
   // Clean up
diff --git a/tests/components/openthread/test-ot.yaml b/tests/components/openthread/test-ot.yaml
index 80a4110abb..483367516f 100644
--- a/tests/components/openthread/test-ot.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/openthread/test-ot.yaml
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ openthread:
   panid: 0x8f28
   extpanid: d63e8e3e495ebbc3
   pskc: c23a76e98f1a6483639b1ac1271e2e27
+  force_dataset: true
 
 text_sensor:
   - platform: openthread_info