diff --git a/aws_lambda_powertools/middleware_factory/__init__.py b/aws_lambda_powertools/middleware_factory/__init__.py
index ebdb338cc15..79f292ccaf0 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_powertools/middleware_factory/__init__.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_powertools/middleware_factory/__init__.py
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
     [`Middleware Factory`](../utilities/middleware_factory.md)
 """
 
-from .factory import lambda_handler_decorator
+from aws_lambda_powertools.middleware_factory.factory import lambda_handler_decorator
 
 __all__ = ["lambda_handler_decorator"]
diff --git a/aws_lambda_powertools/middleware_factory/factory.py b/aws_lambda_powertools/middleware_factory/factory.py
index 4f60c2be287..a4eabf1f259 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_powertools/middleware_factory/factory.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_powertools/middleware_factory/factory.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import inspect
 import logging
 import os
-from typing import Any, Callable
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
 from aws_lambda_powertools.middleware_factory.exceptions import MiddlewareInvalidArgumentError
 from aws_lambda_powertools.shared import constants
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Callable
+
 
 # Maintenance: we can't yet provide an accurate return type without ParamSpec etc. see #1066
 def lambda_handler_decorator(decorator: Callable | None = None, trace_execution: bool | None = None) -> Callable:
diff --git a/tests/functional/middleware_factory/required_dependencies/test_middleware_factory.py b/tests/functional/middleware_factory/required_dependencies/test_middleware_factory.py
index 7481e2b8f6b..be28523b99e 100644
--- a/tests/functional/middleware_factory/required_dependencies/test_middleware_factory.py
+++ b/tests/functional/middleware_factory/required_dependencies/test_middleware_factory.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import json
-from typing import Callable
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -8,6 +10,9 @@
     MiddlewareInvalidArgumentError,
 )
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Callable
+
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def say_hi_middleware() -> Callable: