diff --git a/src/kiara/registries/metadata/__init__.py b/src/kiara/registries/metadata/__init__.py
index c0690d172..4959abf49 100644
--- a/src/kiara/registries/metadata/__init__.py
+++ b/src/kiara/registries/metadata/__init__.py
@@ -225,6 +225,9 @@ def retrieve_environment_item(self, env_cid: str) -> "RuntimeEnvironment":
                 raise KiaraException(
                     f"No environment with id '{env_cid}' available in metadata store."
                 )
+
+            from kiara.models.runtime_environment import RuntimeEnvironment
+
             if isinstance(_environment, RuntimeEnvironment):
                 environment = _environment
             else: