diff --git a/mesonbuild/modules/__init__.py b/mesonbuild/modules/__init__.py
index f88c9d53b..85bb99df5 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/modules/__init__.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/modules/__init__.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from ..mesonlib import relpath, HoldableObject
 from ..interpreterbase.decorators import noKwargs, noPosargs
 
 if T.TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from ..interpreter import Interpreter
+    from ..interpreter import Interpreter, MachineHolder
     from ..interpreterbase import TYPE_var, TYPE_kwargs
     from ..programs import ExternalProgram
 
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ class ModuleState:
         self.man = interpreter.build.get_man()
         self.global_args = interpreter.build.global_args.host
         self.project_args = interpreter.build.projects_args.host.get(interpreter.subproject, {})
-        self.build_machine = interpreter.builtin['build_machine'].held_object
-        self.host_machine = interpreter.builtin['host_machine'].held_object
-        self.target_machine = interpreter.builtin['target_machine'].held_object
+        self.build_machine = T.cast('MachineHolder', interpreter.builtin['build_machine']).held_object
+        self.host_machine = T.cast('MachineHolder', interpreter.builtin['host_machine']).held_object
+        self.target_machine = T.cast('MachineHolder', interpreter.builtin['target_machine']).held_object
         self.current_node = interpreter.current_node
 
     def get_include_args(self, include_dirs: T.Iterable[T.Union[str, build.IncludeDirs]], prefix: str = '-I') -> T.List[str]: