diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py b/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py
index e048ad6cb3..cdf3387652 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ async def setup_datetime_core_(var, config, requires_time: bool = True):
     if requires_time:
         rtc = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_TIME_ID])
         cg.add(var.set_rtc(rtc))
+        cg.add_define("REQUIRES_TIME")
 
     for conf in config.get(CONF_ON_TIME, []):
         trigger = cg.new_Pvariable(conf[CONF_TRIGGER_ID])
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_base.h b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_base.h
index dea34e6110..584252bee8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_base.h
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_base.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/entity_base.h"
 #include "esphome/core/time.h"
-#ifdef USE_TIME
+#ifdef REQUIRES_TIME
 #include "esphome/components/time/real_time_clock.h"
 #endif
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class DateTimeBase : public EntityBase {
 
   void add_on_state_callback(std::function<void()> &&callback) { this->state_callback_.add(std::move(callback)); }
 
-#ifdef USE_TIME
+#ifdef REQUIRES_TIME
   void set_rtc(time::RealTimeClock *rtc) { this->rtc_ = rtc; }
   time::RealTimeClock *get_rtc() const { return this->rtc_; }
 #endif
@@ -28,14 +28,14 @@ class DateTimeBase : public EntityBase {
  protected:
   CallbackManager<void()> state_callback_;
 
-#ifdef USE_TIME
+#ifdef REQUIRES_TIME
   time::RealTimeClock *rtc_;
 #endif
 
   bool has_state_{false};
 };
 
-#ifdef USE_TIME
+#ifdef REQUIRES_TIME
 class DateTimeStateTrigger : public Trigger<ESPTime> {
  public:
   explicit DateTimeStateTrigger(DateTimeBase *parent) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.cpp b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.cpp
index f215b7acb5..1d00231a5d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.cpp
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ void DateTimeEntityRestoreState::apply(DateTimeEntity *time) {
   time->publish_state();
 }
 
-#ifdef USE_TIME
+#ifdef REQUIRES_TIME
 static const int MAX_TIMESTAMP_DRIFT = 900;  // how far can the clock drift before we consider
                                              // there has been a drastic time synchronization
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.h b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.h
index 27db84cf7e..9c2fe01ef7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.h
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.h
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class DateTimeSetAction : public Action<Ts...>, public
   }
 };
 
-#ifdef USE_TIME
+#ifdef REQUIRES_TIME
 class OnDateTimeTrigger : public Trigger<>, public Component, public Parented<DateTimeEntity> {
  public:
   void loop() override;
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.cpp b/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.cpp
index db0094ae01..cd718bb9e5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.cpp
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ void TimeEntityRestoreState::apply(TimeEntity *time) {
   time->publish_state();
 }
 
-#ifdef USE_TIME
+#ifdef REQUIRES_TIME
 static const int MAX_TIMESTAMP_DRIFT = 900;  // how far can the clock drift before we consider
                                              // there has been a drastic time synchronization
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.h b/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.h
index f7e0a7ddd9..2c63090312 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.h
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.h
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class TimeSetAction : public Action<Ts...>, public Pare
   }
 };
 
-#ifdef USE_TIME
+#ifdef REQUIRES_TIME
 class OnTimeTrigger : public Trigger<>, public Component, public Parented<TimeEntity> {
  public:
   void loop() override;