diff --git a/src/braket/devices/local_simulator.py b/src/braket/devices/local_simulator.py
index b7933184e..5c087cd79 100644
--- a/src/braket/devices/local_simulator.py
+++ b/src/braket/devices/local_simulator.py
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ def _(self, program: OpenQASMProgram, inputs: Optional[dict[str, float]], _shots
         return program
 
     @_construct_payload.register
-    def _(self, program: SerializableProgram, inputs: Optional[dict[str, float]], _shots):
+    def _(self, program: SerializableProgram, inputs: dict[str, float] | None, _shots: int):
         inputs_copy = inputs.copy() if inputs is not None else {}
         return OpenQASMProgram(source=program.to_ir(ir_type=IRType.OPENQASM), inputs=inputs_copy)