diff --git a/script/merge_component_configs.py b/script/merge_component_configs.py
index 41bbafcd021..df7ad4a28c9 100755
--- a/script/merge_component_configs.py
+++ b/script/merge_component_configs.py
@@ -288,6 +288,9 @@ def merge_component_configs(
                 for pkg_name, pkg_value in list(packages_value.items()):
                     if pkg_name in common_bus_packages:
                         continue
+                    # Resolve deferred !include files before checking type
+                    if isinstance(pkg_value, yaml_util.IncludeFile):
+                        pkg_value = pkg_value.load()
                     if not isinstance(pkg_value, dict):
                         continue
                     # Component-specific package - expand its content into top level
@@ -295,6 +298,9 @@ def merge_component_configs(
             elif isinstance(packages_value, list):
                 # List format - expand all package includes
                 for pkg_value in packages_value:
+                    # Resolve deferred !include files before checking type
+                    if isinstance(pkg_value, yaml_util.IncludeFile):
+                        pkg_value = pkg_value.load()
                     if not isinstance(pkg_value, dict):
                         continue
                     comp_data = merge_config(comp_data, pkg_value)