diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index d4d804d5a..4e5a84f2b 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -174,6 +174,8 @@ Detailed list of changes
 
 - Fix a regression that broke accept anyway shortcut in the paste confirmation dialog (:pull:`9640`)
 
+- Fix kitty hanging on startup on Intel macs (:iss:`9643`)
+
 0.46.0 [2026-03-11]
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/kitty/fonts/render.py b/kitty/fonts/render.py
index 49220d94f..5aa88bd99 100644
--- a/kitty/fonts/render.py
+++ b/kitty/fonts/render.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2016, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 
-import ctypes
 import os
 import sys
 from collections.abc import Callable, Generator
@@ -218,6 +217,7 @@ def set_font_family(opts: Options | None = None, override_font_size: float | Non
 
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import ctypes
     CBufType = ctypes.Array[ctypes.c_ubyte]
 else:
     CBufType = None