diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32/preferences.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32/preferences.cpp
index 96b7e7809e..8c2b67a942 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32/preferences.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32/preferences.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ class ESP32Preferences : public ESPPreferences {
   uint32_t current_offset = 0;
 
   void open() {
+    nvs_flash_init();
     esp_err_t err = nvs_open("esphome", NVS_READWRITE, &nvs_handle);
     if (err == 0)
       return;