diff --git a/esphome/cpp_generator.py b/esphome/cpp_generator.py
index a2da424e5a..6f1af01a5b 100644
--- a/esphome/cpp_generator.py
+++ b/esphome/cpp_generator.py
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ def safe_exp(obj: SafeExpType) -> Expression:
         return IntLiteral(int(obj.total_seconds))
     if isinstance(obj, TimePeriodMinutes):
         return IntLiteral(int(obj.total_minutes))
-    if isinstance(obj, tuple | list):
+    if isinstance(obj, (tuple, list)):
         return ArrayInitializer(*[safe_exp(o) for o in obj])
     if obj is bool:
         return bool_