diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index bf9d474d7a2..ad39b3f3467 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@ jobs:
       cpp-unit-tests-run-all: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.cpp-unit-tests-run-all }}
       cpp-unit-tests-components: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.cpp-unit-tests-components }}
       component-test-batches: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.component-test-batches }}
+      validate-only-components: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.validate-only-components }}
       benchmarks: ${{ steps.determine.outputs.benchmarks }}
     steps:
       - name: Check out code from GitHub
@@ -305,6 +306,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "cpp-unit-tests-run-all=$(echo "$output" | jq -r '.cpp_unit_tests_run_all')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "cpp-unit-tests-components=$(echo "$output" | jq -c '.cpp_unit_tests_components')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "component-test-batches=$(echo "$output" | jq -c '.component_test_batches')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "validate-only-components=$(echo "$output" | jq -c '.validate_only_components')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "benchmarks=$(echo "$output" | jq -r '.benchmarks')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
       - name: Save components graph cache
         if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/dev'
@@ -775,13 +777,45 @@ jobs:
           echo "Config validation passed! Starting compilation..."
           echo ""
 
+          # Compute the compile-stage component list. Components whose only
+          # changes are validate.*.yaml files are config-only -- their source
+          # and test fixtures didn't move, so rebuilding firmware adds no
+          # signal. Subtract them from this batch before invoking compile.
+          validate_only_json='${{ needs.determine-jobs.outputs.validate-only-components }}'
+          if [ -z "$validate_only_json" ]; then
+            validate_only_json='[]'
+          fi
+          if ! validate_only_csv=$(echo "$validate_only_json" | jq -r 'join(",")'); then
+            echo "::error::Failed to render validate-only-components as CSV from: $validate_only_json"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          if [ -z "$validate_only_csv" ]; then
+            compile_csv="$components_csv"
+          else
+            components_sorted=$(echo "$components_csv" | tr ',' '\n' | sort -u)
+            validate_sorted=$(echo "$validate_only_csv" | tr ',' '\n' | sort -u)
+            if ! diff_out=$(comm -23 <(echo "$components_sorted") <(echo "$validate_sorted")); then
+              echo "::error::Failed to compute compile component subset."
+              exit 1
+            fi
+            compile_csv=$(echo "$diff_out" | paste -sd ',' -)
+            skipped=$(comm -12 <(echo "$components_sorted") <(echo "$validate_sorted") | paste -sd ',' -)
+            if [ -n "$skipped" ]; then
+              echo "Validate-only components in this batch (skipping compile): $skipped"
+            fi
+          fi
+
           # Show disk space before compilation
           echo "Disk space before compilation:"
           df -h
           echo ""
 
-          # Run compilation with grouping and isolation
-          python3 script/test_build_components.py -e compile -c "$components_csv" -f --isolate "$directly_changed_csv"
+          if [ -n "$compile_csv" ]; then
+            # Run compilation with grouping and isolation
+            python3 script/test_build_components.py -e compile -c "$compile_csv" -f --isolate "$directly_changed_csv"
+          else
+            echo "All components in this batch are validate-only -- skipping compile stage."
+          fi
 
   test-native-idf:
     name: Test components with native ESP-IDF
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 86f554e9cec..2139a2b796d 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -398,13 +398,23 @@ This document provides essential context for AI models interacting with this pro
         │       ├── i2c/         # I2C bus
         │       └── spi/         # SPI bus
         └── components/[component]/
-            ├── common.yaml      # Component-only config (no bus definitions)
-            ├── test.esp32-idf.yaml
-            ├── test.esp8266-ard.yaml
-            └── test.rp2040-ard.yaml
+            ├── common.yaml          # Component-only config (no bus definitions)
+            ├── test.esp32-idf.yaml      # config + compile
+            ├── test.esp8266-ard.yaml    # config + compile
+            ├── test-variant.esp32-idf.yaml  # variant test, config + compile
+            ├── validate.esp32-idf.yaml      # config-only (never compiled)
+            └── validate-legacy.esp32-idf.yaml  # config-only variant
         ```
         Run them using `script/test_build_components`. Use `-c <component>` to test specific components and `-t <target>` for specific platforms.
 
+    *   **Config-only test files (`validate.*.yaml`):** Use this prefix when a YAML file only needs to exercise schema/validation paths and does not need to be compiled. CI runs `validate.*.yaml` files with `esphome config` only and skips them during compile. The grammar mirrors `test.*.yaml`:
+        - `validate.<platform>.yaml` — base config-only test
+        - `validate-<variant>.<platform>.yaml` — config-only variant
+
+        Use this for things like deprecated-syntax migration tests, schema edge cases, or platform-specific validation branches where building firmware adds no signal. A component may have any mix of `test.*.yaml` and `validate.*.yaml` files. Validate files never participate in bus-grouping; each one runs as its own `esphome config` invocation.
+
+        When a PR's only edits to a component are `validate.*.yaml` files (no source changes, no `test.*.yaml` changes, and the component isn't pulled in as a dependency of another changed component), CI skips the compile stage for that component entirely and only runs config validation. This is decided in `script/determine-jobs.py` via `_component_change_is_validate_only` and surfaced as the `validate_only_components` output that the `test-build-components-split` job consumes.
+
     *   **Test Grouping with Packages:** Components that use shared bus packages can be grouped together in CI to reduce build count. **Never define buses (uart, i2c, spi, modbus) directly in test YAML files** — always use packages from `test_build_components/common/`:
         ```yaml
         # test.esp32-idf.yaml — use packages for buses
diff --git a/script/analyze_component_buses.py b/script/analyze_component_buses.py
index 17af7af5771..1d86d5c71ca 100755
--- a/script/analyze_component_buses.py
+++ b/script/analyze_component_buses.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ from typing import Any
 # Add esphome to path
 sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent.parent))
 
-from helpers import BASE_BUS_COMPONENTS
+from helpers import BASE_BUS_COMPONENTS, is_validate_only_file
 
 from esphome import yaml_util
 from esphome.config_helpers import Extend, Remove
@@ -283,6 +283,13 @@ def analyze_component(component_dir: Path) -> tuple[dict[str, list[str]], bool,
 
     # Analyze all YAML files in the component directory
     for yaml_file in component_dir.glob("*.yaml"):
+        # validate.*.yaml files are config-only -- they don't compile, so
+        # their contents must not influence compile-time grouping decisions
+        # (e.g. a !extend used only to exercise schema validation must not
+        # disqualify the whole component from being grouped).
+        if is_validate_only_file(yaml_file):
+            continue
+
         analysis = analyze_yaml_file(yaml_file)
 
         # Track if any file uses extend/remove
diff --git a/script/ci-custom.py b/script/ci-custom.py
index 25db32105c6..56ca0d0355e 100755
--- a/script/ci-custom.py
+++ b/script/ci-custom.py
@@ -1068,7 +1068,12 @@ PACKAGE_BUS_RE = re.compile(
 )
 
 
-@lint_content_check(include=["tests/components/*/test.*.yaml"])
+@lint_content_check(
+    include=[
+        "tests/components/*/test.*.yaml",
+        "tests/components/*/validate.*.yaml",
+    ]
+)
 def lint_test_package_key_matches_bus(fname, content):
     """Ensure package keys match the common bus directory name.
 
diff --git a/script/determine-jobs.py b/script/determine-jobs.py
index b8f324784d8..57b3c6eb88e 100755
--- a/script/determine-jobs.py
+++ b/script/determine-jobs.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ The CI workflow uses this information to:
 - Skip or run downstream esphome/device-builder tests against the PR's Python code
 - Determine which components to test individually
 - Decide how to split component tests (if there are many)
+- Identify directly-changed components whose only edits are validate.*.yaml files,
+  so CI can skip the compile stage for them and run config validation only
 - Run memory impact analysis whenever there are changed components (merged config), and also for core-only changes
 
 Usage:
@@ -68,6 +70,7 @@ from helpers import (
     get_integration_test_files_for_components,
     get_target_branch,
     git_ls_files,
+    is_validate_only_file,
     parse_test_filename,
     root_path,
 )
@@ -600,14 +603,41 @@ def _component_has_tests(component: str) -> bool:
     """Check if a component has test files.
 
     Cached to avoid repeated filesystem operations for the same component.
+    Validate files (validate.*.yaml) count -- they exercise schema validation
+    in CI even though they are never compiled.
 
     Args:
         component: Component name to check
 
     Returns:
-        True if the component has test YAML files
+        True if the component has test or validate YAML files
     """
-    return bool(get_component_test_files(component, all_variants=True))
+    return bool(
+        get_component_test_files(component, all_variants=True, include_validate=True)
+    )
+
+
+def _component_change_is_validate_only(component: str, changed: list[str]) -> bool:
+    """Return True if every changed file for this component is a validate.*.yaml.
+
+    Used to decide whether a directly-changed component can skip the compile
+    stage in CI. A component qualifies when:
+    - at least one file under ``tests/components/<component>/`` changed, AND
+    - no source file under ``esphome/components/<component>/`` changed, AND
+    - every changed test file is a ``validate.*.yaml`` or
+      ``validate-*.yaml`` (i.e. no regular ``test.*.yaml`` was touched).
+    """
+    test_prefix = f"tests/components/{component}/"
+    src_prefix = f"esphome/components/{component}/"
+    test_changes: list[Path] = []
+    for path in changed:
+        if path.startswith(src_prefix):
+            return False
+        if path.startswith(test_prefix):
+            test_changes.append(Path(path))
+    if not test_changes:
+        return False
+    return all(is_validate_only_file(p) for p in test_changes)
 
 
 def _select_platform_by_preference(
@@ -977,6 +1007,17 @@ def main() -> None:
         if component not in directly_changed_components
     ]
 
+    # Components whose only changes are validate.*.yaml files can skip the
+    # compile stage in CI -- their source and test fixtures didn't move, so
+    # rebuilding firmware adds no signal. Only directly-changed components
+    # qualify: a component pulled in transitively (because a dependency
+    # changed) still needs the compile to catch regressions.
+    validate_only_components = sorted(
+        component
+        for component in directly_changed_with_tests
+        if _component_change_is_validate_only(component, changed)
+    )
+
     # Detect components for memory impact analysis (merged config)
     memory_impact = detect_memory_impact_config(args.branch)
 
@@ -1073,6 +1114,7 @@ def main() -> None:
         "cpp_unit_tests_run_all": cpp_run_all,
         "cpp_unit_tests_components": cpp_components,
         "component_test_batches": component_test_batches,
+        "validate_only_components": validate_only_components,
         "benchmarks": run_benchmarks,
     }
 
diff --git a/script/helpers.py b/script/helpers.py
index 7a6d7ecef68..cf82a89f932 100644
--- a/script/helpers.py
+++ b/script/helpers.py
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def get_component_from_path(file_path: str) -> str | None:
 
 
 def get_component_test_files(
-    component: str, *, all_variants: bool = False
+    component: str, *, all_variants: bool = False, include_validate: bool = False
 ) -> list[Path]:
     """Get test files for a component.
 
@@ -126,6 +126,10 @@ def get_component_test_files(
         all_variants: If True, returns all test files including variants (test-*.yaml).
                      If False, returns only base test files (test.*.yaml).
                      Default is False.
+        include_validate: If True, also returns config-only files (validate.*.yaml,
+                     and validate-*.yaml when all_variants is True). These files
+                     are validated with `esphome config` but never compiled.
+                     Default is False.
 
     Returns:
         List of test file paths for the component, or empty list if none exist
@@ -136,9 +140,27 @@ def get_component_test_files(
 
     if all_variants:
         # Match both test.*.yaml and test-*.yaml patterns
-        return list(tests_dir.glob("test[.-]*.yaml"))
+        files = list(tests_dir.glob("test[.-]*.yaml"))
+        if include_validate:
+            files.extend(tests_dir.glob("validate[.-]*.yaml"))
+        return files
     # Match only test.*.yaml (base tests)
-    return list(tests_dir.glob("test.*.yaml"))
+    files = list(tests_dir.glob("test.*.yaml"))
+    if include_validate:
+        files.extend(tests_dir.glob("validate.*.yaml"))
+    return files
+
+
+def is_validate_only_file(test_file: Path) -> bool:
+    """Return True if the given path is a config-only validate file.
+
+    Validate files follow the same grammar as test files but with a
+    ``validate`` prefix instead of ``test``: ``validate.<platform>.yaml``
+    or ``validate-<variant>.<platform>.yaml``. They are exercised with
+    ``esphome config`` only and skipped during compile.
+    """
+    name = test_file.name
+    return name.startswith("validate.") or name.startswith("validate-")
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
diff --git a/script/split_components_for_ci.py b/script/split_components_for_ci.py
index d95cdcbe815..0d10246bb48 100755
--- a/script/split_components_for_ci.py
+++ b/script/split_components_for_ci.py
@@ -44,14 +44,21 @@ ALL_PLATFORMS = "all"
 def has_test_files(component_name: str, tests_dir: Path) -> bool:
     """Check if a component has test files.
 
+    Validate files (validate.*.yaml) count -- a component with only config-only
+    test files still needs a CI runner for schema validation.
+
     Args:
         component_name: Name of the component
         tests_dir: Path to tests/components directory (unused, kept for compatibility)
 
     Returns:
-        True if the component has test.*.yaml or test-*.yaml files
+        True if the component has test.*.yaml, test-*.yaml, or validate.*.yaml files
     """
-    return bool(get_component_test_files(component_name, all_variants=True))
+    return bool(
+        get_component_test_files(
+            component_name, all_variants=True, include_validate=True
+        )
+    )
 
 
 def create_intelligent_batches(
diff --git a/script/test_build_components.py b/script/test_build_components.py
index 10c5e5463fe..43b71004eb8 100755
--- a/script/test_build_components.py
+++ b/script/test_build_components.py
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ from script.analyze_component_buses import (
     merge_compatible_bus_groups,
     uses_local_file_references,
 )
-from script.helpers import get_component_test_files, split_conflicting_groups
+from script.helpers import (
+    get_component_test_files,
+    is_validate_only_file,
+    split_conflicting_groups,
+)
 from script.merge_component_configs import merge_component_configs
 
 
@@ -83,7 +87,10 @@ def show_disk_space_if_ci(esphome_command: str) -> None:
 
 
 def find_component_tests(
-    components_dir: Path, component_pattern: str = "*", base_only: bool = False
+    components_dir: Path,
+    component_pattern: str = "*",
+    base_only: bool = False,
+    include_validate: bool = False,
 ) -> dict[str, list[Path]]:
     """Find all component test files.
 
@@ -91,6 +98,8 @@ def find_component_tests(
         components_dir: Path to tests/components directory
         component_pattern: Glob pattern for component names
         base_only: If True, only find base test files (test.*.yaml), not variant files (test-*.yaml)
+        include_validate: If True, also include config-only files (validate.*.yaml).
+            These are run with `esphome config` only and never compiled.
 
     Returns:
         Dictionary mapping component name to list of test files
@@ -102,7 +111,11 @@ def find_component_tests(
             continue
 
         # Get test files using helper function
-        test_files = get_component_test_files(comp_dir.name, all_variants=not base_only)
+        test_files = get_component_test_files(
+            comp_dir.name,
+            all_variants=not base_only,
+            include_validate=include_validate,
+        )
         if test_files:
             component_tests[comp_dir.name] = test_files
 
@@ -836,12 +849,25 @@ def run_grouped_component_tests(
     # With grouping:
     # - 1 build per group (regardless of how many components)
     # - Individual components still need all their platform builds
+    # - Validate files of grouped components still run individually
+    #   (they're config-only and bypass the grouped compile, see
+    #   run_individual_component_test), so each adds one more invocation.
     individual_test_file_count = sum(
         len(all_tests[comp]) for comp in individual_tests if comp in all_tests
     )
 
+    grouped_component_set = {c for _, _, comps in groups_to_test for c in comps}
+    grouped_validate_file_count = sum(
+        1
+        for comp in grouped_component_set
+        for test_file in all_tests.get(comp, [])
+        if is_validate_only_file(test_file)
+    )
+
     total_grouped_components = sum(len(comps) for _, _, comps in groups_to_test)
-    total_builds_with_grouping = len(groups_to_test) + individual_test_file_count
+    total_builds_with_grouping = (
+        len(groups_to_test) + individual_test_file_count + grouped_validate_file_count
+    )
     builds_saved = total_test_files - total_builds_with_grouping
 
     print(f"\n{'=' * 80}")
@@ -854,6 +880,10 @@ def run_grouped_component_tests(
     print(
         f"  • {individual_test_file_count} individual builds ({len(individual_tests)} components)"
     )
+    if grouped_validate_file_count:
+        print(
+            f"  • {grouped_validate_file_count} validate-only invocations for grouped components"
+        )
     if total_test_files > 0:
         reduction_pct = (builds_saved / total_test_files) * 100
         print(f"  • Saves {builds_saved} builds ({reduction_pct:.1f}% reduction)")
@@ -937,8 +967,13 @@ def run_individual_component_test(
         tested_components: Set of already tested components
         test_results: List to append test results
     """
-    # Skip if already tested in a group
-    if (component, platform_with_version) in tested_components:
+    # Validate files (validate.*.yaml) are config-only and never participate
+    # in compile-time bus grouping, so always run them individually even when
+    # the (component, platform) pair was covered by a group test.
+    if (
+        not is_validate_only_file(test_file)
+        and (component, platform_with_version) in tested_components
+    ):
         return
 
     test_result = run_esphome_test(
@@ -992,13 +1027,23 @@ def test_components(
     # Get platform base files
     platform_bases = get_platform_base_files(build_components_dir)
 
+    # Validate files (validate.*.yaml) are config-only -- they exercise
+    # schema/validation paths but are never compiled. Include them when running
+    # `config` or `clean`; exclude them under `compile` so they never reach a
+    # toolchain build.
+    include_validate = esphome_command != "compile"
+
     # Find all component tests
     all_tests = {}
     for pattern in component_patterns:
         # Skip empty patterns (happens when components list is empty string)
         if not pattern:
             continue
-        all_tests.update(find_component_tests(tests_dir, pattern, base_only))
+        all_tests.update(
+            find_component_tests(
+                tests_dir, pattern, base_only, include_validate=include_validate
+            )
+        )
 
     # If no components found, build a reference configuration for baseline comparison
     # Create a synthetic "empty" component test that will build just the base config
diff --git a/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py b/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py
index cc795bc5532..5e2dd670dc1 100644
--- a/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py
+++ b/tests/script/test_determine_jobs.py
@@ -2215,3 +2215,230 @@ def test_should_run_benchmarks_with_branch() -> None:
         mock_changed.return_value = []
         determine_jobs.should_run_benchmarks("release")
         mock_changed.assert_called_with("release")
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _component_change_is_validate_only
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("component", "changed", "expected"),
+    [
+        # Only a base validate file changed.
+        (
+            "foo",
+            ["tests/components/foo/validate.esp32-idf.yaml"],
+            True,
+        ),
+        # Only a validate variant changed.
+        (
+            "foo",
+            ["tests/components/foo/validate-legacy.esp32-idf.yaml"],
+            True,
+        ),
+        # Multiple validate files (all validate).
+        (
+            "foo",
+            [
+                "tests/components/foo/validate.esp32-idf.yaml",
+                "tests/components/foo/validate-legacy.esp32-idf.yaml",
+            ],
+            True,
+        ),
+        # Mixed: validate + regular test must NOT be classified as validate-only.
+        (
+            "foo",
+            [
+                "tests/components/foo/validate.esp32-idf.yaml",
+                "tests/components/foo/test.esp32-idf.yaml",
+            ],
+            False,
+        ),
+        # Regular test only.
+        (
+            "foo",
+            ["tests/components/foo/test.esp32-idf.yaml"],
+            False,
+        ),
+        # Source change disqualifies even if a validate file is also touched.
+        (
+            "foo",
+            [
+                "esphome/components/foo/foo.cpp",
+                "tests/components/foo/validate.esp32-idf.yaml",
+            ],
+            False,
+        ),
+        # No matching files at all.
+        ("foo", ["esphome/core/helpers.cpp"], False),
+        # Filenames merely starting with "validate" but not following the
+        # grammar must not match (defensive against accidental classification).
+        (
+            "foo",
+            ["tests/components/foo/validatesomething.yaml"],
+            False,
+        ),
+        # An unrelated component's validate change doesn't affect this one.
+        (
+            "foo",
+            ["tests/components/bar/validate.esp32-idf.yaml"],
+            False,
+        ),
+        # common.yaml change in the component dir disqualifies.
+        (
+            "foo",
+            [
+                "tests/components/foo/common.yaml",
+                "tests/components/foo/validate.esp32-idf.yaml",
+            ],
+            False,
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_component_change_is_validate_only(
+    component: str, changed: list[str], expected: bool
+) -> None:
+    """The validate-only classifier rejects anything beyond validate.* edits."""
+    assert (
+        determine_jobs._component_change_is_validate_only(component, changed)
+        is expected
+    )
+
+
+def test_main_emits_validate_only_components(
+    mock_determine_integration_tests: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_clang_tidy: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_clang_format: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_python_linters: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_import_time: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_device_builder: Mock,
+    mock_changed_files: Mock,
+    mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests: Mock,
+    capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str],
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """Directly-changed components whose only edits are validate.*.yaml are
+    listed in `validate_only_components` so CI can skip their compile stage.
+    """
+    monkeypatch.delenv("GITHUB_ACTIONS", raising=False)
+
+    mock_determine_integration_tests.return_value = (False, [])
+    mock_should_run_clang_tidy.return_value = False
+    mock_should_run_clang_format.return_value = False
+    mock_should_run_python_linters.return_value = False
+    mock_should_run_import_time.return_value = False
+    mock_should_run_device_builder.return_value = False
+    mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests.return_value = (False, [])
+
+    # foo: only validate file changed (qualifies)
+    # bar: test file changed (does not qualify)
+    mock_changed_files.return_value = [
+        "tests/components/foo/validate.esp32-idf.yaml",
+        "tests/components/bar/test.esp32-idf.yaml",
+    ]
+
+    with (
+        patch("sys.argv", ["determine-jobs.py"]),
+        patch.object(determine_jobs, "_is_clang_tidy_full_scan", return_value=False),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "get_changed_components",
+            return_value=["foo", "bar"],
+        ),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "filter_component_and_test_files",
+            side_effect=lambda f: f.startswith("tests/components/"),
+        ),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "get_components_with_dependencies",
+            side_effect=lambda files, deps: ["foo", "bar"],
+        ),
+        patch.object(determine_jobs, "_component_has_tests", return_value=True),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "detect_memory_impact_config",
+            return_value={"should_run": "false"},
+        ),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "create_intelligent_batches",
+            return_value=([["foo", "bar"]], {}),
+        ),
+    ):
+        determine_jobs.main()
+
+    output = json.loads(capsys.readouterr().out)
+    assert output["validate_only_components"] == ["foo"]
+
+
+def test_main_validate_only_excludes_transitive_components(
+    mock_determine_integration_tests: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_clang_tidy: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_clang_format: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_python_linters: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_import_time: Mock,
+    mock_should_run_device_builder: Mock,
+    mock_changed_files: Mock,
+    mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests: Mock,
+    capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str],
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """A component pulled in only as a dependency must NOT be considered
+    validate-only, even if it has no source changes -- its dependency moved,
+    so the compile is still required.
+    """
+    monkeypatch.delenv("GITHUB_ACTIONS", raising=False)
+
+    mock_determine_integration_tests.return_value = (False, [])
+    mock_should_run_clang_tidy.return_value = False
+    mock_should_run_clang_format.return_value = False
+    mock_should_run_python_linters.return_value = False
+    mock_should_run_import_time.return_value = False
+    mock_should_run_device_builder.return_value = False
+    mock_determine_cpp_unit_tests.return_value = (False, [])
+
+    # Only foo's validate file changed directly. bar is a transitive dep.
+    mock_changed_files.return_value = [
+        "tests/components/foo/validate.esp32-idf.yaml",
+    ]
+
+    with (
+        patch("sys.argv", ["determine-jobs.py"]),
+        patch.object(determine_jobs, "_is_clang_tidy_full_scan", return_value=False),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "get_changed_components",
+            return_value=["foo", "bar"],  # bar pulled in via dependencies
+        ),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "filter_component_and_test_files",
+            side_effect=lambda f: f.startswith("tests/components/"),
+        ),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "get_components_with_dependencies",
+            # deps=False -> directly_changed = [foo]; deps=True -> [foo, bar]
+            side_effect=lambda files, deps: ["foo", "bar"] if deps else ["foo"],
+        ),
+        patch.object(determine_jobs, "_component_has_tests", return_value=True),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "detect_memory_impact_config",
+            return_value={"should_run": "false"},
+        ),
+        patch.object(
+            determine_jobs,
+            "create_intelligent_batches",
+            return_value=([["foo", "bar"]], {}),
+        ),
+    ):
+        determine_jobs.main()
+
+    output = json.loads(capsys.readouterr().out)
+    # Only foo (directly changed, validate-only). bar is a transitive dep
+    # and still needs compile despite no source change of its own.
+    assert output["validate_only_components"] == ["foo"]
diff --git a/tests/script/test_helpers.py b/tests/script/test_helpers.py
index db0d2908f47..10f258aa830 100644
--- a/tests/script/test_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/script/test_helpers.py
@@ -1624,3 +1624,171 @@ def test_split_conflicting_groups_preserves_original_signature_for_first_bucket(
     platform, signature = next(iter(extra))
     assert platform == "esp32"
     assert signature.startswith("i2c__conflict")
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# get_component_test_files / is_validate_only_file
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fake_component_tests(tmp_path: Path) -> Path:
+    """Create a fake tests/components/ tree and return the repo root.
+
+    Layout for component "demo":
+        test.esp32-idf.yaml
+        test.esp8266-ard.yaml
+        test-variant.esp32-idf.yaml
+        validate.esp32-idf.yaml
+        validate-legacy.esp32-idf.yaml
+
+    Layout for component "validate_only":
+        validate.esp32-idf.yaml      (only validate files)
+
+    Layout for component "no_tests":
+        common.yaml                  (no test/validate files at all)
+    """
+    tests_dir = tmp_path / "tests" / "components"
+
+    demo = tests_dir / "demo"
+    demo.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (demo / "test.esp32-idf.yaml").write_text("")
+    (demo / "test.esp8266-ard.yaml").write_text("")
+    (demo / "test-variant.esp32-idf.yaml").write_text("")
+    (demo / "validate.esp32-idf.yaml").write_text("")
+    (demo / "validate-legacy.esp32-idf.yaml").write_text("")
+
+    validate_only = tests_dir / "validate_only"
+    validate_only.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (validate_only / "validate.esp32-idf.yaml").write_text("")
+
+    no_tests = tests_dir / "no_tests"
+    no_tests.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (no_tests / "common.yaml").write_text("")
+
+    return tmp_path
+
+
+def _names(paths: list[Path]) -> set[str]:
+    return {p.name for p in paths}
+
+
+def test_get_component_test_files_default_excludes_validate(
+    fake_component_tests: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Default behaviour: only base test.*.yaml; no variants, no validate."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(helpers, "root_path", str(fake_component_tests))
+
+    files = helpers.get_component_test_files("demo")
+
+    assert _names(files) == {"test.esp32-idf.yaml", "test.esp8266-ard.yaml"}
+
+
+def test_get_component_test_files_all_variants_excludes_validate(
+    fake_component_tests: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """all_variants=True picks up test variants but still skips validate."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(helpers, "root_path", str(fake_component_tests))
+
+    files = helpers.get_component_test_files("demo", all_variants=True)
+
+    assert _names(files) == {
+        "test.esp32-idf.yaml",
+        "test.esp8266-ard.yaml",
+        "test-variant.esp32-idf.yaml",
+    }
+
+
+def test_get_component_test_files_include_validate_base_only(
+    fake_component_tests: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """include_validate=True with base-only adds validate.*.yaml only."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(helpers, "root_path", str(fake_component_tests))
+
+    files = helpers.get_component_test_files("demo", include_validate=True)
+
+    assert _names(files) == {
+        "test.esp32-idf.yaml",
+        "test.esp8266-ard.yaml",
+        "validate.esp32-idf.yaml",
+    }
+
+
+def test_get_component_test_files_include_validate_all_variants(
+    fake_component_tests: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """include_validate=True with all_variants adds validate variants too."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(helpers, "root_path", str(fake_component_tests))
+
+    files = helpers.get_component_test_files(
+        "demo", all_variants=True, include_validate=True
+    )
+
+    assert _names(files) == {
+        "test.esp32-idf.yaml",
+        "test.esp8266-ard.yaml",
+        "test-variant.esp32-idf.yaml",
+        "validate.esp32-idf.yaml",
+        "validate-legacy.esp32-idf.yaml",
+    }
+
+
+def test_get_component_test_files_validate_only_component(
+    fake_component_tests: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """A component with only validate files is invisible without the flag."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(helpers, "root_path", str(fake_component_tests))
+
+    assert helpers.get_component_test_files("validate_only") == []
+    assert helpers.get_component_test_files("validate_only", all_variants=True) == []
+
+    files = helpers.get_component_test_files(
+        "validate_only", all_variants=True, include_validate=True
+    )
+    assert _names(files) == {"validate.esp32-idf.yaml"}
+
+
+def test_get_component_test_files_missing_component(
+    fake_component_tests: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """Unknown components return an empty list, regardless of flags."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(helpers, "root_path", str(fake_component_tests))
+
+    assert (
+        helpers.get_component_test_files(
+            "does_not_exist", all_variants=True, include_validate=True
+        )
+        == []
+    )
+
+
+def test_get_component_test_files_component_without_tests(
+    fake_component_tests: Path, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """A component with only common.yaml and no test/validate files returns []."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(helpers, "root_path", str(fake_component_tests))
+
+    assert (
+        helpers.get_component_test_files(
+            "no_tests", all_variants=True, include_validate=True
+        )
+        == []
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("filename", "expected"),
+    [
+        ("validate.esp32-idf.yaml", True),
+        ("validate-legacy.esp32-idf.yaml", True),
+        ("validate.host.yaml", True),
+        ("test.esp32-idf.yaml", False),
+        ("test-variant.esp32-idf.yaml", False),
+        ("common.yaml", False),
+        # Defensive: a hypothetical name starting with "validate" but not
+        # following the grammar must not be classified as a validate file.
+        ("validatesomething.yaml", False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_is_validate_only_file(filename: str, expected: bool, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    assert helpers.is_validate_only_file(tmp_path / filename) is expected