diff --git a/python/openai_harmony/__init__.py b/python/openai_harmony/__init__.py
index 0ae2acf..436ed7a 100644
--- a/python/openai_harmony/__init__.py
+++ b/python/openai_harmony/__init__.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ if not TYPE_CHECKING:
         _PyHarmonyEncoding = _Stub()
         _PyStreamableParser = _Stub()
         _HarmonyError = RuntimeError
-else:  # pragma: no branch
+else:  # pragma: no branch - TYPE_CHECKING is always False at runtime
     from .openai_harmony import (
         HarmonyError as HarmonyError,  # expose the actual Rust error directly
     )