diff --git a/esphome/components/tinyusb/__init__.py b/esphome/components/tinyusb/__init__.py
index df94ad75346..724f65721b7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tinyusb/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/tinyusb/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from esphome import final_validate as fv
 import esphome.codegen as cg
 from esphome.components import esp32
 from esphome.components.esp32 import (
@@ -20,6 +21,13 @@ CONF_USB_PRODUCT_STR = "usb_product_str"
 CONF_USB_SERIAL_STR = "usb_serial_str"
 CONF_USB_VENDOR_ID = "usb_vendor_id"
 
+# Components that provide a USB device class (CDC, HID, MSC, ...) on top of
+# tinyusb. Configuring `tinyusb:` without any of these triggers a 5s hang in
+# esp_tinyusb's driver install (descriptors_set fails with no class and no
+# user-provided full_speed_config), which trips the task watchdog before
+# loop() ever runs.
+_USB_CLASS_COMPONENTS = ("usb_cdc_acm",)
+
 tinyusb_ns = cg.esphome_ns.namespace("tinyusb")
 TinyUSB = tinyusb_ns.class_("TinyUSB", cg.Component)
 
@@ -41,6 +49,18 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
 )
 
 
+def _final_validate(config):
+    full_config = fv.full_config.get()
+    if not any(name in full_config for name in _USB_CLASS_COMPONENTS):
+        raise cv.Invalid(
+            "The 'tinyusb' component requires at least one USB class component"
+        )
+    return config
+
+
+FINAL_VALIDATE_SCHEMA = _final_validate
+
+
 async def to_code(config):
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     await cg.register_component(var, config)
diff --git a/esphome/components/tinyusb/tinyusb_component.cpp b/esphome/components/tinyusb/tinyusb_component.cpp
index 2ec696c3e43..3cefc0454a3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tinyusb/tinyusb_component.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tinyusb/tinyusb_component.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,21 @@ void TinyUSB::setup() {
       .string_count = SIZE,
   };
 
+  // Defense-in-depth: esp_tinyusb's tinyusb_descriptors_set() fails with
+  // ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG when no configuration descriptor is provided and
+  // no class that has a built-in default (CDC/MSC/NCM) is compiled in. In
+  // that case the internal task exits without notifying us, and
+  // tinyusb_driver_install() blocks 5s on the notify-take -- long enough
+  // to trip the task watchdog. Bail early so the rest of the device can
+  // still boot.
+#if !(CFG_TUD_CDC > 0 || CFG_TUD_MSC > 0 || CFG_TUD_NCM > 0)
+  if (this->tusb_cfg_.descriptor.full_speed_config == nullptr) {
+    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "No USB class configured");
+    this->mark_failed();
+    return;
+  }
+#endif
+
   esp_err_t result = tinyusb_driver_install(&this->tusb_cfg_);
   if (result != ESP_OK) {
     ESP_LOGE(TAG, "tinyusb_driver_install failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(result));
diff --git a/tests/components/tinyusb/common.yaml b/tests/components/tinyusb/common.yaml
index cb3f48836ab..674e89dbe87 100644
--- a/tests/components/tinyusb/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/tinyusb/common.yaml
@@ -6,3 +6,8 @@ tinyusb:
   usb_product_str: ESPHomeTestProduct
   usb_serial_str: ESPHomeTestSerialNumber
   usb_vendor_id: 0x2345
+
+# tinyusb requires at least one USB class companion; usb_cdc_acm satisfies that.
+usb_cdc_acm:
+  interfaces:
+    - id: tinyusb_test_cdc