diff --git a/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py b/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py
index 44aa4f1..72da17b 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py
@@ -215,12 +215,12 @@ class MLSettings(Base):
     )
 
     @classmethod
-    async def load(cls, session) -> "MLSettings":
+    async def load(cls, session) -> MLSettings:
         """The singleton settings row (id=1), via an async session. Mirrors
         ImportSettings.load — the shared singleton-loader pattern."""
         return (await session.execute(select(cls).where(cls.id == 1))).scalar_one()
 
     @classmethod
-    def load_sync(cls, session) -> "MLSettings":
+    def load_sync(cls, session) -> MLSettings:
         """The singleton settings row (id=1), via a sync session."""
         return session.execute(select(cls).where(cls.id == 1)).scalar_one()