diff --git a/cylc/flow/parsec/config.py b/cylc/flow/parsec/config.py
index 2802f1ed9bf..049867fd686 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/parsec/config.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/parsec/config.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 import sys
 from textwrap import dedent
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Iterable, List, Optional
-from typing_extensions import Literal
 
 from cylc.flow.context_node import ContextNode
 from cylc.flow.parsec.exceptions import (
@@ -36,11 +35,12 @@
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from optparse import Values
+    from typing_extensions import Literal
 
 
 class ParsecConfig:
     """Object wrapper for parsec functions."""
-    META: Literal[str] = 'meta'
+    META: "Literal['meta']" = 'meta'
 
     def __init__(
         self,
diff --git a/cylc/flow/scripts/config.py b/cylc/flow/scripts/config.py
index 562f39c6fdd..67b14037daf 100755
--- a/cylc/flow/scripts/config.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/scripts/config.py
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
 """
 
 import asyncio
-import json
 
 import os.path
 from typing import List, Optional, TYPE_CHECKING