diff --git a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/__init__.py b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/__init__.py
index 268c0241b..98d82712b 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/__init__.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/__init__.py
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ class Pregel(Runnable[Union[dict[str, Any], Any], Union[dict[str, Any], Any]]):
                     continue
 
             # find the subgraph, if any
-            graph: Optional[Pregel] = find_subgraph_pregel(node.bound)
+            graph = cast(Optional[Pregel], find_subgraph_pregel(node.bound))
 
             # if found, yield recursively
             if graph:
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/utils.py b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/utils.py
index 2f9b9d411..3f5fe54d1 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/utils.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/pregel/utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional
+from typing import Optional
 
 from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableLambda, RunnableSequence
 from langchain_core.runnables.utils import get_function_nonlocals
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ from langchain_core.runnables.utils import get_function_nonlocals
 from langgraph.checkpoint.base import ChannelVersions
 from langgraph.utils.runnable import Runnable, RunnableCallable, RunnableSeq
 
-if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from langgraph.pregel import Pregel
-
 
 def get_new_channel_versions(
     previous_versions: ChannelVersions, current_versions: ChannelVersions
@@ -28,7 +25,7 @@ def get_new_channel_versions(
     return new_versions
 
 
-def find_subgraph_pregel(candidate: Runnable) -> Optional[Pregel]:
+def find_subgraph_pregel(candidate: Runnable) -> Optional[Runnable]:
     candidates: list[Runnable] = [candidate]
 
     for c in candidates: