diff --git a/bec_widgets/cli/generate_cli.py b/bec_widgets/cli/generate_cli.py
index fce71d7f..9ace78c1 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/cli/generate_cli.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/cli/generate_cli.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ else:
 class ClientGenerator:
     def __init__(self):
         self.header = """# This file was automatically generated by generate_cli.py\n
+from __future__ import annotations
 import enum
 from typing import Literal, Optional, overload
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_generate_cli_client.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_generate_cli_client.py
index 88a4d5dc..bc4a9f73 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_generate_cli_client.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_generate_cli_client.py
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ def test_client_generator_with_black_formatting():
         '''\
         # This file was automatically generated by generate_cli.py
 
+        from __future__ import annotations
+
         import enum
         from typing import Literal, Optional, overload