diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32/post_build.py.script b/esphome/components/esp32/post_build.py.script
index 2bb1a6c3d6..406516a102 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32/post_build.py.script
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32/post_build.py.script
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 # Source https://github.com/letscontrolit/ESPEasy/pull/3845#issuecomment-1005864664
 
-import esptool
+import os
+if os.environ.get("ESPHOME_USE_SUBPROCESS") is None:
+    import esptool
+else:
+    import subprocess
 from SCons.Script import ARGUMENTS
 
 # pylint: disable=E0602
@@ -42,8 +46,11 @@ def esp32_create_combined_bin(source, target, env):
         print()
         print(f"Using esptool.py arguments: {' '.join(cmd)}")
         print()
-    esptool.main(cmd)
 
+    if os.environ.get("ESPHOME_USE_SUBPROCESS") is None:
+        esptool.main(cmd)
+    else:
+        subprocess.run(["esptool.py", *cmd])
 
 # pylint: disable=E0602
 env.AddPostAction("$BUILD_DIR/${PROGNAME}.bin", esp32_create_combined_bin)  # noqa