diff --git a/chia/cmds/chia.py b/chia/cmds/chia.py
index bba5754c5b1e..ae1350ce22ce 100644
--- a/chia/cmds/chia.py
+++ b/chia/cmds/chia.py
@@ -137,8 +137,6 @@ def run_daemon_cmd(ctx: click.Context, wait_for_unlock: bool) -> None:
 
 
 def main() -> None:
-    import chia.cmds.signer  # noqa
-
     cli()
 
 
diff --git a/chia/cmds/signer.py b/chia/cmds/signer.py
index b5afcd803a10..c5e7ac8fcced 100644
--- a/chia/cmds/signer.py
+++ b/chia/cmds/signer.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def _clear_screen() -> None:
     os.system("cls" if os.name == "nt" else "clear")
 
 
-@wallet_cmd.group("signer", help="Get information for an external signer")
+@click.group("signer", help="Get information for an external signer")
 def signer_cmd() -> None:
     pass  # pragma: no cover
 
diff --git a/chia/cmds/wallet.py b/chia/cmds/wallet.py
index aef8f2a80029..14dddf5d46da 100644
--- a/chia/cmds/wallet.py
+++ b/chia/cmds/wallet.py
@@ -34,6 +34,17 @@ def wallet_cmd(ctx: click.Context) -> None:
     pass
 
 
+# TODO: must come after the definition above because of an import loop.  the command
+#  class framework should be expanded to support definition without a group to be a
+#  member of and later attachment to a group using standard click mechanisms.
+
+
+import chia.cmds.signer  # noqa: E402
+
+# TODO: ignoring as i'm guessing this is tied to the import loop
+wallet_cmd.add_command(chia.cmds.signer.signer_cmd)  # type: ignore[has-type]
+
+
 @wallet_cmd.command("get_transaction", help="Get a transaction")
 @click.option(
     "-wp",