diff --git a/litellm/proxy/middleware/guard_middleware.py b/litellm/proxy/middleware/guard_middleware.py
index 4bf9a949513..c1183167237 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/middleware/guard_middleware.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/middleware/guard_middleware.py
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ Design constraints honored here:
   envelope for 403/429 as for other proxy rejections.
 """
 
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import os
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any