diff --git a/esphome/components/pulse_counter_ulp/pulse_counter_ulp_sensor.cpp b/esphome/components/pulse_counter_ulp/pulse_counter_ulp_sensor.cpp
index 1919a5d0ce..f259b6022f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/pulse_counter_ulp/pulse_counter_ulp_sensor.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/pulse_counter_ulp/pulse_counter_ulp_sensor.cpp
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ void PulseCounterUlpSensor::dump_config() {
 void PulseCounterUlpSensor::update() {
   UlpProgram::state raw = this->storage_.pop_state();
   clock::time_point now = clock::now();
-  auto interval = now - this->last_time_;
-  if (this->last_time_ != clock::time_point{}) {
+  clock::duration interval = now - this->last_time_;
+  if (interval != clock::duration::zero()) {
     float value = std::chrono::minutes{1} * static_cast<float>(raw.edge_count) / interval;  // pulses per minute
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s': Retrieved counter: %0.2f pulses/min", this->get_name().c_str(), value);
     this->publish_state(value);