diff --git a/electrum/blockchain.py b/electrum/blockchain.py
index 4cca1d282..2dd4982c1 100644
--- a/electrum/blockchain.py
+++ b/electrum/blockchain.py
@@ -23,16 +23,17 @@
 import os
 import threading
 import time
-from typing import Optional, Dict, Mapping, Sequence
+from typing import Optional, Dict, Mapping, Sequence, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from . import util
 from .bitcoin import hash_encode, int_to_hex, rev_hex
 from .crypto import sha256d
 from . import constants
 from .util import bfh, with_lock
-from .simple_config import SimpleConfig
 from .logging import get_logger, Logger
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from .simple_config import SimpleConfig
 
 _logger = get_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ class Blockchain(Logger):
     Manages blockchain headers and their verification
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, config: SimpleConfig, forkpoint: int, parent: Optional['Blockchain'],
+    def __init__(self, config: 'SimpleConfig', forkpoint: int, parent: Optional['Blockchain'],
                  forkpoint_hash: str, prev_hash: Optional[str]):
         assert isinstance(forkpoint_hash, str) and len(forkpoint_hash) == 64, forkpoint_hash
         assert (prev_hash is None) or (isinstance(prev_hash, str) and len(prev_hash) == 64), prev_hash
diff --git a/electrum/network.py b/electrum/network.py
index ab08adb49..47da82b69 100644
--- a/electrum/network.py
+++ b/electrum/network.py
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ from .interface import (Interface, PREFERRED_NETWORK_PROTOCOL,
                         RequestTimedOut, NetworkTimeout, BUCKET_NAME_OF_ONION_SERVERS,
                         NetworkException, RequestCorrupted, ServerAddr)
 from .version import PROTOCOL_VERSION
-from .simple_config import SimpleConfig
 from .i18n import _
 from .logging import get_logger, Logger
 
@@ -71,6 +70,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .lnworker import LNGossip
     from .lnwatcher import WatchTower
     from .daemon import Daemon
+    from .simple_config import SimpleConfig
 
 
 _logger = get_logger(__name__)
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ class Network(Logger, NetworkRetryManager[ServerAddr]):
     local_watchtower: Optional['WatchTower'] = None
     path_finder: Optional['LNPathFinder'] = None
 
-    def __init__(self, config: SimpleConfig, *, daemon: 'Daemon' = None):
+    def __init__(self, config: 'SimpleConfig', *, daemon: 'Daemon' = None):
         global _INSTANCE
         assert _INSTANCE is None, "Network is a singleton!"
         _INSTANCE = self
@@ -287,9 +287,7 @@ class Network(Logger, NetworkRetryManager[ServerAddr]):
         self.asyncio_loop = util.get_asyncio_loop()
         assert self.asyncio_loop.is_running(), "event loop not running"
 
-        assert isinstance(config, SimpleConfig), f"config should be a SimpleConfig instead of {type(config)}"
         self.config = config
-
         self.daemon = daemon
 
         blockchain.read_blockchains(self.config)