diff --git a/esphome/components/zigbee/__init__.py b/esphome/components/zigbee/__init__.py
index 0bb5f95bb68..018dab73488 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zigbee/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/zigbee/__init__.py
@@ -75,6 +75,13 @@ SENSOR_SCHEMA = cv.Schema({}).extend(zephyr_sensor)
 SWITCH_SCHEMA = cv.Schema({}).extend(zephyr_switch)
 NUMBER_SCHEMA = cv.Schema({}).extend(zephyr_number)
 
+
+def _validate_router_sleepy(config: ConfigType) -> ConfigType:
+    if config.get(CONF_ROUTER) and config.get(CONF_SLEEPY):
+        raise cv.Invalid("router and sleepy are mutually exclusive")
+    return config
+
+
 CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
     cv.Schema(
         {
@@ -82,10 +89,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             cv.Optional(CONF_MODEL, default=CORE.name): cv.All(
                 cv.string, cv.Length(max=31)
             ),
-            cv.OnlyWith(CONF_ROUTER, "esp32", default=False): cv.All(
-                cv.requires_component("esp32"),
-                cv.boolean,
-            ),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_ROUTER, default=False): cv.boolean,
             cv.Optional(CONF_ON_JOIN): cv.All(
                 cv.requires_component("nrf52"),
                 automation.validate_automation(single=True),
@@ -113,6 +117,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             ),
         }
     ).extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA),
+    _validate_router_sleepy,
     zigbee_require_vfs_select,
     zigbee_set_core_data,
     cv.Any(
diff --git a/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp b/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp
index 90bb66c91d5..dfffd1c91f4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.cpp
@@ -190,7 +190,9 @@ void ZigbeeComponent::setup() {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Cannot load settings, err: %d", err);
     return;
   }
+#ifdef CONFIG_ZIGBEE_ROLE_END_DEVICE
   zigbee_configure_sleepy_behavior(this->sleepy_);
+#endif
   zigbee_enable();
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.py b/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.py
index 7d904b6081d..b74074e50f8 100644
--- a/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.py
+++ b/esphome/components/zigbee/zigbee_zephyr.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ from esphome.types import ConfigType
 from .const import (
     CONF_ON_JOIN,
     CONF_POWER_SOURCE,
+    CONF_ROUTER,
     CONF_WIPE_ON_BOOT,
     KEY_ZIGBEE,
     POWER_SOURCE,
@@ -160,7 +161,10 @@ zephyr_number = cv.Schema(
 async def zephyr_to_code(config: ConfigType) -> None:
     zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE", True)
     zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_APP_UTILS", True)
-    zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_ROLE_END_DEVICE", True)
+    if config[CONF_ROUTER]:
+        zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_ROLE_ROUTER", True)
+    else:
+        zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_ROLE_END_DEVICE", True)
 
     zephyr_add_prj_conf("ZIGBEE_CHANNEL_SELECTION_MODE_MULTI", True)
 
diff --git a/tests/components/zigbee/test.nrf52-mcumgr.yaml b/tests/components/zigbee/test.nrf52-mcumgr.yaml
index bf3cb9cdd92..a81feea0691 100644
--- a/tests/components/zigbee/test.nrf52-mcumgr.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/zigbee/test.nrf52-mcumgr.yaml
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
 <<: !include common_nrf52.yaml
+
+zigbee:
+  router: true