diff --git a/check_deps.py b/check_deps.py
index 50e81b4..c15b5ac 100644
--- a/check_deps.py
+++ b/check_deps.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ Usage:
     python check_deps.py
 """
 
+from __future__ import annotations  # allows str | None syntax on Python < 3.10
+
 import importlib.metadata
 import sys