diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp23008/__init__.py b/esphome/components/mcp23008/__init__.py
index 4241b6ba48..858b37b60a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp23008/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp23008/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import esphome.codegen as cg
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome import pins
 from esphome.components import i2c
-from esphome.const import CONF_ID, CONF_NUMBER, CONF_MODE, CONF_INVERTED
+from esphome.const import CONF_ID, CONF_NUMBER, CONF_MODE, CONF_INVERTED, CONF_OPEN_DRAIN_INTERRUPT
 
 DEPENDENCIES = ['i2c']
 MULTI_CONF = True
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ MCP23008GPIOPin = mcp23008_ns.class_('MCP23008GPIOPin', cg.GPIOPin)
 
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.Schema({
     cv.Required(CONF_ID): cv.declare_id(MCP23008),
+    cv.Optional(CONF_OPEN_DRAIN_INTERRUPT, default=False): cv.boolean,
 }).extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA).extend(i2c.i2c_device_schema(0x20))
 
 
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ def to_code(config):
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     yield cg.register_component(var, config)
     yield i2c.register_i2c_device(var, config)
+    cg.add(var.set_open_drain_ints(config[CONF_OPEN_DRAIN_INTERRUPT]))
 
 
 CONF_MCP23008 = 'mcp23008'
diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp23008/mcp23008.cpp b/esphome/components/mcp23008/mcp23008.cpp
index bf5bb55f2e..22c7322458 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp23008/mcp23008.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp23008/mcp23008.cpp
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ void MCP23008::setup() {
     return;
   }
 
-  // all pins input
-  this->write_reg_(MCP23008_IODIR, 0xFF);
+  if (this->open_drain_ints_) {
+    // enable open-drain interrupt pins, 3.3V-safe
+    this->write_reg_(MCP23008_IOCON, 0x04);
+  }
 }
 bool MCP23008::digital_read(uint8_t pin) {
   uint8_t bit = pin % 8;
diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp23008/mcp23008.h b/esphome/components/mcp23008/mcp23008.h
index b4e5d75fd4..e30a924dde 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp23008/mcp23008.h
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp23008/mcp23008.h
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ class MCP23008 : public Component, public i2c::I2CDevice {
   void digital_write(uint8_t pin, bool value);
   void pin_mode(uint8_t pin, uint8_t mode);
 
+  void set_open_drain_ints(const bool value) { open_drain_ints_ = value; }
+
   float get_setup_priority() const override;
 
  protected:
@@ -50,6 +52,7 @@ class MCP23008 : public Component, public i2c::I2CDevice {
   void update_reg_(uint8_t pin, bool pin_value, uint8_t reg_a);
 
   uint8_t olat_{0x00};
+  bool open_drain_ints_;
 };
 
 class MCP23008GPIOPin : public GPIOPin {
diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp23017/__init__.py b/esphome/components/mcp23017/__init__.py
index 4b798bf434..34f94b293a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp23017/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp23017/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import esphome.codegen as cg
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome import pins
 from esphome.components import i2c
-from esphome.const import CONF_ID, CONF_NUMBER, CONF_MODE, CONF_INVERTED
+from esphome.const import CONF_ID, CONF_NUMBER, CONF_MODE, CONF_INVERTED, CONF_OPEN_DRAIN_INTERRUPT
 
 DEPENDENCIES = ['i2c']
 MULTI_CONF = True
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ MCP23017GPIOPin = mcp23017_ns.class_('MCP23017GPIOPin', cg.GPIOPin)
 
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.Schema({
     cv.Required(CONF_ID): cv.declare_id(MCP23017),
+    cv.Optional(CONF_OPEN_DRAIN_INTERRUPT, default=False): cv.boolean,
 }).extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA).extend(i2c.i2c_device_schema(0x20))
 
 
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ def to_code(config):
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     yield cg.register_component(var, config)
     yield i2c.register_i2c_device(var, config)
+    cg.add(var.set_open_drain_ints(config[CONF_OPEN_DRAIN_INTERRUPT]))
 
 
 CONF_MCP23017 = 'mcp23017'
diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp23017/mcp23017.cpp b/esphome/components/mcp23017/mcp23017.cpp
index 9653aa680d..ec972668ef 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp23017/mcp23017.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp23017/mcp23017.cpp
@@ -14,9 +14,11 @@ void MCP23017::setup() {
     return;
   }
 
-  // all pins input
-  this->write_reg_(MCP23017_IODIRA, 0xFF);
-  this->write_reg_(MCP23017_IODIRB, 0xFF);
+  if (this->open_drain_ints_) {
+    // enable open-drain interrupt pins, 3.3V-safe
+    this->write_reg_(MCP23017_IOCONA, 0x04);
+    this->write_reg_(MCP23017_IOCONB, 0x04);
+  }
 }
 bool MCP23017::digital_read(uint8_t pin) {
   uint8_t bit = pin % 8;
diff --git a/esphome/components/mcp23017/mcp23017.h b/esphome/components/mcp23017/mcp23017.h
index 4389eeb6ff..5656dcc58d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mcp23017/mcp23017.h
+++ b/esphome/components/mcp23017/mcp23017.h
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ class MCP23017 : public Component, public i2c::I2CDevice {
   void digital_write(uint8_t pin, bool value);
   void pin_mode(uint8_t pin, uint8_t mode);
 
+  void set_open_drain_ints(const bool value) { open_drain_ints_ = value; }
+
   float get_setup_priority() const override;
 
  protected:
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ class MCP23017 : public Component, public i2c::I2CDevice {
 
   uint8_t olat_a_{0x00};
   uint8_t olat_b_{0x00};
+  bool open_drain_ints_;
 };
 
 class MCP23017GPIOPin : public GPIOPin {
diff --git a/esphome/const.py b/esphome/const.py
index 184954b4c6..0fec577d19 100644
--- a/esphome/const.py
+++ b/esphome/const.py
@@ -357,6 +357,7 @@ CONF_ON_VALUE = 'on_value'
 CONF_ON_VALUE_RANGE = 'on_value_range'
 CONF_ONE = 'one'
 CONF_OPEN_ACTION = 'open_action'
+CONF_OPEN_DRAIN_INTERRUPT = 'open_drain_interrupt'
 CONF_OPEN_DURATION = 'open_duration'
 CONF_OPEN_ENDSTOP = 'open_endstop'
 CONF_OPTIMISTIC = 'optimistic'
diff --git a/tests/test1.yaml b/tests/test1.yaml
index cda2abfeb5..84dd8eeaf4 100644
--- a/tests/test1.yaml
+++ b/tests/test1.yaml
@@ -1921,10 +1921,12 @@ pcf8574:
 
 mcp23017:
   - id: 'mcp23017_hub'
+    open_drain_interrupt: 'true'
 
 mcp23008:
   - id: 'mcp23008_hub'
     address: 0x22
+    open_drain_interrupt: 'true'
 
 mcp23016:
   - id: 'mcp23016_hub'