diff --git a/esphome/components/template/select/__init__.py b/esphome/components/template/select/__init__.py
index 4044a407f3..3a707628a8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/template/select/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/template/select/__init__.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ async def to_code(config):
 
     if CONF_LAMBDA in config:
         template_ = await cg.process_lambda(
-            config[CONF_LAMBDA], [], return_type=cg.optional.template(str)
+            config[CONF_LAMBDA], [], return_type=cg.optional.template(cg.std_string)
         )
         cg.add(var.set_template(template_))