diff --git a/parsl/dataflow/futures.py b/parsl/dataflow/futures.py
index d695eb5643..616a3d3bad 100644
--- a/parsl/dataflow/futures.py
+++ b/parsl/dataflow/futures.py
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 from typing import Any, Optional, Sequence, Union
 
 import parsl.app.app as app
-import parsl.dataflow.taskrecord as tr
 from parsl.app.futures import DataFuture
+from parsl.dataflow.taskrecord import TaskRecord
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class AppFuture(Future):
 
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, task_record: tr.TaskRecord) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, task_record: TaskRecord) -> None:
         """Initialize the AppFuture.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/parsl/dataflow/taskrecord.py b/parsl/dataflow/taskrecord.py
index 00ca43fdb7..0621ab8f41 100644
--- a/parsl/dataflow/taskrecord.py
+++ b/parsl/dataflow/taskrecord.py
@@ -3,12 +3,16 @@
 import datetime
 import threading
 from concurrent.futures import Future
-from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Sequence, Union
+
+# only for type checking:
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Sequence, Union
 
 from typing_extensions import TypedDict
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from parsl.dataflow.futures import AppFuture
+
 import parsl.dataflow.dflow as dflow
-import parsl.dataflow.futures as pdf
 from parsl.dataflow.states import States
 
 
@@ -25,7 +29,7 @@ class TaskRecord(TypedDict, total=False):
 
     depends: List[Future]
 
-    app_fu: pdf.AppFuture
+    app_fu: AppFuture
     """The Future which was returned to the user when an app was invoked.
     """