diff --git a/src/prefect/__init__.py b/src/prefect/__init__.py
index 0316ec63f847..f71ee4fef429 100644
--- a/src/prefect/__init__.py
+++ b/src/prefect/__init__.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import warnings
 import sys
 
+print("HI THERE")
+
 __version_info__ = _version.get_versions()
 __version__ = __version_info__["version"]
 
diff --git a/src/prefect/cli/agent.py b/src/prefect/cli/agent.py
index e5061a845d0c..ed5f4ec3ad8b 100644
--- a/src/prefect/cli/agent.py
+++ b/src/prefect/cli/agent.py
@@ -7,24 +7,19 @@
 from typing import List, Optional
 from uuid import UUID
 
-import anyio
 import typer
 
-import prefect
-from prefect.agent import PrefectAgent
 from prefect.cli._types import PrefectTyper, SettingsOption
-from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
 from prefect.cli.root import app
-from prefect.client import get_client
-from prefect.client.schemas.filters import WorkQueueFilter, WorkQueueFilterName
-from prefect.exceptions import ObjectNotFound
 from prefect.settings import (
     PREFECT_AGENT_PREFETCH_SECONDS,
     PREFECT_AGENT_QUERY_INTERVAL,
     PREFECT_API_URL,
 )
-from prefect.utilities.processutils import setup_signal_handlers_agent
-from prefect.utilities.services import critical_service_loop
+from prefect.utilities.importtools import lazy_import
+
+anyio = lazy_import("anyio")
+prefect = lazy_import("prefect")
 
 agent_app = PrefectTyper(
     name="agent",
@@ -36,7 +31,6 @@
 )
 app.add_typer(agent_app)
 
-
 ascii_name = r"""
   ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ _____     _   ___ ___ _  _ _____
  | _ \ _ \ __| __| __/ __|_   _|   /_\ / __| __| \| |_   _|
@@ -102,6 +96,13 @@ async def start(
     """
     Start an agent process to poll one or more work queues for flow runs.
     """
+    from prefect.agent import PrefectAgent
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+    from prefect.exceptions import ObjectNotFound
+    from prefect.utilities.processutils import setup_signal_handlers_agent
+    from prefect.utilities.services import critical_service_loop
+
     work_queues = work_queues or []
 
     if work_queue is not None:
@@ -261,6 +262,10 @@ async def _check_work_queues_paused(
     Returns:
         - bool: True if work queues are paused, False otherwise
     """
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+    from prefect.client.schemas.filters import WorkQueueFilter, WorkQueueFilterName
+    from prefect.exceptions import ObjectNotFound
+
     work_queues_list = work_queues or ["default"]
     try:
         work_queues_filter = WorkQueueFilter(
diff --git a/src/prefect/cli/artifact.py b/src/prefect/cli/artifact.py
index 0593ef81dddc..2f610fecbd9d 100644
--- a/src/prefect/cli/artifact.py
+++ b/src/prefect/cli/artifact.py
@@ -1,17 +1,12 @@
 from typing import Optional
 
-import pendulum
 import typer
-from rich.pretty import Pretty
-from rich.table import Table
 
-from prefect import get_client
 from prefect.cli._types import PrefectTyper
-from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
 from prefect.cli.root import app
-from prefect.client.schemas.filters import ArtifactFilter, ArtifactFilterKey
-from prefect.client.schemas.sorting import ArtifactCollectionSort, ArtifactSort
-from prefect.exceptions import ObjectNotFound
+from prefect.utilities.importtools import lazy_import
+
+rich = lazy_import("rich")
 
 artifact_app = PrefectTyper(
     name="artifact", help="Commands for starting and interacting with artifacts."
@@ -36,7 +31,12 @@ async def list_artifacts(
     """
     List artifacts.
     """
-    table = Table(
+    import pendulum
+
+    from prefect import get_client
+    from prefect.client.schemas.sorting import ArtifactCollectionSort, ArtifactSort
+
+    table = rich.Table(
         title="Artifacts",
         caption="List Artifacts using `prefect artifact ls`",
         show_header=True,
@@ -123,6 +123,10 @@ async def inspect(
             }
     ]
     """
+    from prefect import get_client
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client.schemas.filters import ArtifactFilter, ArtifactFilterKey
+    from prefect.client.schemas.sorting import ArtifactSort
 
     async with get_client() as client:
         artifacts = await client.read_artifacts(
@@ -135,7 +139,7 @@ async def inspect(
 
         artifacts = [a.dict(json_compatible=True) for a in artifacts]
 
-        app.console.print(Pretty(artifacts))
+        app.console.print(rich.Pretty(artifacts))
 
 
 @artifact_app.command("delete")
@@ -156,6 +160,11 @@ async def delete(
     Examples:
         $ prefect artifact delete "my-artifact"
     """
+    from prefect import get_client
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client.schemas.filters import ArtifactFilter, ArtifactFilterKey
+    from prefect.exceptions import ObjectNotFound
+
     if key and artifact_id:
         exit_with_error("Please provide either a key or an artifact_id but not both.")
 
diff --git a/src/prefect/cli/block.py b/src/prefect/cli/block.py
index b63a83db23ac..d7eedc19a4ff 100644
--- a/src/prefect/cli/block.py
+++ b/src/prefect/cli/block.py
@@ -1,30 +1,29 @@
 """
 Command line interface for working with blocks.
 """
+
 import inspect
-from importlib import import_module
 from pathlib import Path
 from types import ModuleType
 from typing import List, Optional, Type
 
 import typer
-from rich.table import Table
+from typing_extensions import TYPE_CHECKING
 
-from prefect.blocks.core import Block, InvalidBlockRegistration
 from prefect.cli._types import PrefectTyper
-from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
 from prefect.cli.root import app
-from prefect.client import get_client
 from prefect.exceptions import (
     ObjectNotFound,
     PrefectHTTPStatusError,
-    ProtectedBlockError,
     ScriptError,
     exception_traceback,
 )
-from prefect.settings import PREFECT_UI_URL
-from prefect.utilities.asyncutils import run_sync_in_worker_thread
-from prefect.utilities.importtools import load_script_as_module
+from prefect.utilities.importtools import lazy_import
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from prefect.blocks.core import Block
+
+rich = lazy_import("rich")
 
 blocks_app = PrefectTyper(name="block", help="Commands for working with blocks.")
 blocktypes_app = PrefectTyper(
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@
 
 def display_block(block_document):
     block_slug = f"{block_document.block_type.slug}/{block_document.name}"
-    block_table = Table(
+    block_table = rich.Table(
         title=block_slug, show_header=False, show_footer=False, expand=True
     )
     block_table.add_column(style="italic cyan")
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ def display_block(block_document):
 
 
 def display_block_type(block_type):
-    block_type_table = Table(
+    block_type_table = rich.Table(
         title=block_type.name, show_header=False, show_footer=False, expand=True
     )
     block_type_table.add_column(style="italic cyan")
@@ -72,7 +71,9 @@ def display_block_type(block_type):
     return block_type_table
 
 
-async def _register_blocks_in_module(module: ModuleType) -> List[Type[Block]]:
+async def _register_blocks_in_module(module: ModuleType) -> List[Type["Block"]]:
+    from prefect.blocks.core import Block, InvalidBlockRegistration
+
     registered_blocks = []
     for _, cls in inspect.getmembers(module):
         if Block.is_block_class(cls):
@@ -85,8 +86,8 @@ async def _register_blocks_in_module(module: ModuleType) -> List[Type[Block]]:
     return registered_blocks
 
 
-def _build_registered_blocks_table(registered_blocks: List[Type[Block]]):
-    table = Table("Registered Blocks")
+def _build_registered_blocks_table(registered_blocks: List[Type["Block"]]):
+    table = rich.Table("Registered Blocks")
     for block in registered_blocks:
         table.add_row(block.get_block_type_name())
     return table
@@ -123,6 +124,13 @@ async def register(
         Register block types in a .py file:
         $ prefect block register -f my_blocks.py
     """
+    from importlib import import_module
+
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.settings import PREFECT_UI_URL
+    from prefect.utilities.asyncutils import run_sync_in_worker_thread
+    from prefect.utilities.importtools import load_script_as_module
+
     # Handles if both options are specified or if neither are specified
     if not (bool(file_path) ^ bool(module_name)):
         exit_with_error(
@@ -182,10 +190,12 @@ async def block_ls():
     """
     View all configured blocks.
     """
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         blocks = await client.read_block_documents()
 
-    table = Table(
+    table = rich.Table(
         title="Blocks", caption="List Block Types using `prefect block type ls`"
     )
     table.add_column("ID", style="cyan", no_wrap=True)
@@ -214,6 +224,9 @@ async def block_delete(
     """
     Delete a configured block.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         if slug is None and block_id is not None:
             try:
@@ -250,6 +263,10 @@ async def block_create(
     """
     Generate a link to the Prefect UI to create a block.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+    from prefect.settings import PREFECT_UI_URL
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         try:
             block_type = await client.read_block_type_by_slug(block_type_slug)
@@ -284,6 +301,9 @@ async def block_inspect(
     """
     Displays details about a configured block.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         if slug is None and block_id is not None:
             try:
@@ -314,10 +334,12 @@ async def list_types():
     """
     List all block types.
     """
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         block_types = await client.read_block_types()
 
-    table = Table(
+    table = rich.Table(
         title="Block Types",
         show_lines=True,
     )
@@ -349,6 +371,9 @@ async def blocktype_inspect(
     """
     Display details about a block type.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         try:
             block_type = await client.read_block_type_by_slug(slug)
@@ -365,6 +390,13 @@ async def blocktype_delete(
     """
     Delete an unprotected Block Type.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+    from prefect.exceptions import (
+        ObjectNotFound,
+        ProtectedBlockError,
+    )
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         try:
             block_type = await client.read_block_type_by_slug(slug)
diff --git a/src/prefect/cli/concurrency_limit.py b/src/prefect/cli/concurrency_limit.py
index 4dced52942bc..b19d67237a3d 100644
--- a/src/prefect/cli/concurrency_limit.py
+++ b/src/prefect/cli/concurrency_limit.py
@@ -1,25 +1,12 @@
 """
 Command line interface for working with concurrency limits.
 """
-import textwrap
-
-import pendulum
-
-try:
-    from rich.console import Group
-except ImportError:
-    # Name changed in https://github.com/Textualize/rich/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md#1100---2022-01-09
-    from rich.console import RenderGroup as Group
-
-from rich.panel import Panel
-from rich.pretty import Pretty
-from rich.table import Table
 
 from prefect.cli._types import PrefectTyper
-from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
 from prefect.cli.root import app
-from prefect.client import get_client
-from prefect.exceptions import ObjectNotFound
+from prefect.utilities.importtools import lazy_import
+
+pendulum = lazy_import("pendulum")
 
 concurrency_limit_app = PrefectTyper(
     name="concurrency-limit",
@@ -36,6 +23,9 @@ async def create(tag: str, concurrency_limit: int):
     This limit controls how many task runs with that tag may simultaneously be in a
     Running state.
     """
+    import textwrap
+
+    from prefect.client import get_client
 
     async with get_client() as client:
         await client.create_concurrency_limit(
@@ -67,6 +57,20 @@ async def inspect(tag: str):
     which are currently using a concurrency slot.
     """
 
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+    from prefect.exceptions import ObjectNotFound
+
+    try:
+        from rich.console import Group
+    except ImportError:
+        # Name changed in https://github.com/Textualize/rich/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md#1100---2022-01-09
+        from rich.console import RenderGroup as Group
+
+    from rich.panel import Panel
+    from rich.pretty import Pretty
+    from rich.table import Table
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         try:
             result = await client.read_concurrency_limit_by_tag(tag=tag)
@@ -104,6 +108,10 @@ async def ls(limit: int = 15, offset: int = 0):
     """
     View all concurrency limits.
     """
+    from rich.table import Table
+
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+
     table = Table(
         title="Concurrency Limits",
         caption="inspect a concurrency limit to show active task run IDs",
@@ -134,6 +142,9 @@ async def reset(tag: str):
     """
     Resets the concurrency limit slots set on the specified tag.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+    from prefect.exceptions import ObjectNotFound
 
     async with get_client() as client:
         try:
@@ -149,6 +160,9 @@ async def delete(tag: str):
     """
     Delete the concurrency limit set on the specified tag.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client import get_client
+    from prefect.exceptions import ObjectNotFound
 
     async with get_client() as client:
         try:
diff --git a/src/prefect/cli/deployment.py b/src/prefect/cli/deployment.py
index 8d642a736d5f..1681475d6499 100644
--- a/src/prefect/cli/deployment.py
+++ b/src/prefect/cli/deployment.py
@@ -11,28 +11,13 @@
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Union
 from uuid import UUID
 
-import pendulum
 import typer
 import yaml
-from rich.pretty import Pretty
-from rich.table import Table
+from typing_extensions import TYPE_CHECKING
 
-from prefect._internal.compatibility.experimental import experiment_enabled
 from prefect.blocks.core import Block
 from prefect.cli._types import PrefectTyper
-from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
 from prefect.cli.root import app
-from prefect.client.orchestration import PrefectClient, ServerType, get_client
-from prefect.client.schemas.filters import FlowFilter
-from prefect.client.schemas.objects import DeploymentSchedule
-from prefect.client.schemas.schedules import (
-    CronSchedule,
-    IntervalSchedule,
-    RRuleSchedule,
-)
-from prefect.client.utilities import inject_client
-from prefect.context import PrefectObjectRegistry, registry_from_script
-from prefect.deployments import Deployment, load_deployments_from_yaml
 from prefect.exceptions import (
     ObjectAlreadyExists,
     ObjectNotFound,
@@ -40,14 +25,15 @@
     ScriptError,
     exception_traceback,
 )
-from prefect.flow_runs import wait_for_flow_run
-from prefect.flows import load_flow_from_entrypoint
-from prefect.settings import PREFECT_UI_URL
-from prefect.states import Scheduled
-from prefect.utilities.asyncutils import run_sync_in_worker_thread
 from prefect.utilities.collections import listrepr
 from prefect.utilities.dispatch import get_registry_for_type
-from prefect.utilities.filesystem import create_default_ignore_file
+from prefect.utilities.importtools import lazy_import
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import PrefectClient
+    from prefect.context import PrefectObjectRegistry
+
+pendulum = lazy_import("pendulum")
 
 
 def str_presenter(dumper, data):
@@ -75,13 +61,17 @@ def str_presenter(dumper, data):
 
 
 def assert_deployment_name_format(name: str) -> None:
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+
     if "/" not in name:
         exit_with_error(
             "Invalid deployment name. Expected '<flow-name>/<deployment-name>'"
         )
 
 
-async def get_deployment(client: PrefectClient, name, deployment_id):
+async def get_deployment(client: "PrefectClient", name, deployment_id):
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+
     if name is None and deployment_id is not None:
         try:
             deployment = await client.read_deployment(deployment_id)
@@ -103,11 +93,14 @@ async def get_deployment(client: PrefectClient, name, deployment_id):
 async def create_work_queue_and_set_concurrency_limit(
     work_queue_name, work_pool_name, work_queue_concurrency
 ):
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         if work_queue_concurrency is not None and work_queue_name:
             try:
                 try:
-                    await check_work_pool_exists(work_pool_name)
+                    await check_work_pool_exists(work_pool_name, client=client)
                     res = await client.create_work_queue(
                         name=work_queue_name, work_pool_name=work_pool_name
                     )
@@ -167,10 +160,11 @@ async def create_work_queue_and_set_concurrency_limit(
             )
 
 
-@inject_client
 async def check_work_pool_exists(
-    work_pool_name: Optional[str], client: PrefectClient = None
+    work_pool_name: Optional[str], client: "PrefectClient" = None
 ):
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+
     if work_pool_name is not None:
         try:
             await client.read_work_pool(work_pool_name=work_pool_name)
@@ -189,10 +183,11 @@ async def check_work_pool_exists(
             exit_with_error("Work pool not found!")
 
 
-@inject_client
 async def _print_deployment_work_pool_instructions(
-    work_pool_name: str, client: PrefectClient = None
+    work_pool_name: str, client: "PrefectClient" = None
 ):
+    from prefect._internal.compatibility.experimental import experiment_enabled
+
     work_pool = await client.read_work_pool(work_pool_name)
     blurb = (
         "\nTo execute flow runs from this deployment, start an agent "
@@ -277,6 +272,11 @@ async def inspect(name: str):
         }
 
     """
+    from rich.pretty import Pretty
+
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     assert_deployment_name_format(name)
 
     async with get_client() as client:
@@ -355,6 +355,14 @@ async def create_schedule(
     """
     Create a schedule for a given deployment.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+    from prefect.client.schemas.schedules import (
+        CronSchedule,
+        IntervalSchedule,
+        RRuleSchedule,
+    )
+
     assert_deployment_name_format(name)
 
     if sum(option is not None for option in [interval, rrule_string, cron_string]) != 1:
@@ -459,6 +467,9 @@ async def delete_schedule(
     """
     Delete a deployment schedule.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     assert_deployment_name_format(deployment_name)
 
     async with get_client() as client:
@@ -490,6 +501,9 @@ async def pause_schedule(deployment_name: str, schedule_id: UUID):
     """
     Pause a deployment schedule.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     assert_deployment_name_format(deployment_name)
 
     async with get_client() as client:
@@ -521,6 +535,9 @@ async def resume_schedule(deployment_name: str, schedule_id: UUID):
     """
     Resume a deployment schedule.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     assert_deployment_name_format(deployment_name)
 
     async with get_client() as client:
@@ -550,6 +567,17 @@ async def list_schedules(deployment_name: str):
     """
     View all schedules for a deployment.
     """
+    from rich.table import Table
+
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+    from prefect.client.schemas.objects import DeploymentSchedule
+    from prefect.client.schemas.schedules import (
+        CronSchedule,
+        IntervalSchedule,
+        RRuleSchedule,
+    )
+
     assert_deployment_name_format(deployment_name)
     async with get_client() as client:
         try:
@@ -601,6 +629,9 @@ async def clear_schedules(
     """
     Clear all schedules for a deployment.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     assert_deployment_name_format(deployment_name)
     async with get_client() as client:
         try:
@@ -673,6 +704,9 @@ async def _set_schedule(
 
     This command is deprecated. Use 'prefect deployment schedule create' instead.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     assert_deployment_name_format(name)
 
     exclusive_options = sum(
@@ -736,6 +770,9 @@ async def _pause_schedule(
 
     This command is deprecated. Use `prefect deployment schedule pause` instead.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     assert_deployment_name_format(name)
 
     async with get_client() as client:
@@ -771,6 +808,9 @@ async def _resume_schedule(
 
     This command is deprecated. Use `prefect deployment schedule resume` instead.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     # TODO only work if there is one schedule, otherwise error
     assert_deployment_name_format(name)
     async with get_client() as client:
@@ -796,6 +836,11 @@ async def ls(flow_name: Optional[List[str]] = None, by_created: bool = False):
     """
     View all deployments or deployments for specific flows.
     """
+    from rich.table import Table
+
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+    from prefect.client.schemas.filters import FlowFilter
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         deployments = await client.read_deployments(
             flow_filter=FlowFilter(name={"any_": flow_name}) if flow_name else None
@@ -914,6 +959,12 @@ async def run(
     """
     import dateparser
 
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+    from prefect.flow_runs import wait_for_flow_run
+    from prefect.settings import PREFECT_UI_URL
+    from prefect.states import Scheduled
+
     now = pendulum.now("UTC")
 
     multi_params = {}
@@ -1072,11 +1123,15 @@ async def run(
         )
 
 
-def _load_deployments(path: Path, quietly=False) -> PrefectObjectRegistry:
+def _load_deployments(path: Path, quietly=False) -> "PrefectObjectRegistry":
     """
     Load deployments from the path the user gave on the command line, giving helpful
     error messages if they cannot be loaded.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.context import registry_from_script
+    from prefect.deployments import load_deployments_from_yaml
+
     if path.suffix == ".py":
         from_msg = "python script"
         loader = registry_from_script
@@ -1137,6 +1192,11 @@ async def apply(
     """
     Create or update a deployment from a YAML file.
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import ServerType, get_client
+    from prefect.deployments import Deployment
+    from prefect.settings import PREFECT_UI_URL
+
     deployment = None
     async with get_client() as client:
         for path in paths:
@@ -1252,6 +1312,9 @@ async def delete(
         $ prefect deployment delete test_flow/test_deployment
         $ prefect deployment delete --id dfd3e220-a130-4149-9af6-8d487e02fea6
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error, exit_with_success
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+
     async with get_client() as client:
         if name is None and deployment_id is not None:
             try:
@@ -1457,6 +1520,19 @@ async def build(
     """
     Generate a deployment YAML from /path/to/file.py:flow_function
     """
+
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+    from prefect.client.orchestration import get_client
+    from prefect.client.schemas.schedules import (
+        CronSchedule,
+        IntervalSchedule,
+        RRuleSchedule,
+    )
+    from prefect.deployments import Deployment
+    from prefect.flows import load_flow_from_entrypoint
+    from prefect.utilities.asyncutils import run_sync_in_worker_thread
+    from prefect.utilities.filesystem import create_default_ignore_file
+
     # validate inputs
     if not name:
         exit_with_error(
@@ -1723,6 +1799,8 @@ def _load_json_key_values(
     Returns:
         A mapping of keys -> parsed values
     """
+    from prefect.cli._utilities import exit_with_error
+
     parsed = {}
 
     def cast_value(value: str) -> Any: