diff --git a/.changeset/hungry-noodle-dryer.md b/.changeset/hungry-noodle-dryer.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..610cbb926
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/hungry-noodle-dryer.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'typechain': patch
+---
+
+Fix the import syntax for barrel file imports referring to type-only files. Fixes a problem with ESM compatibility when using the `--node16-modules` flag.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/typechain/src/codegen/createBarrelFiles.ts b/packages/typechain/src/codegen/createBarrelFiles.ts
index f1e764db6..2df569e12 100644
--- a/packages/typechain/src/codegen/createBarrelFiles.ts
+++ b/packages/typechain/src/codegen/createBarrelFiles.ts
@@ -54,16 +54,15 @@ export function createBarrelFiles(
       .map((p) => {
         const namespaceIdentifier = normalizeDirName(p)
 
+        const fromFilePath = moduleSuffix ? `'./${p}/index${moduleSuffix}'` : `'./${p}'`
+
         if (typeOnly)
           return [
-            `import type * as ${namespaceIdentifier} from './${p}';`,
+            `import type * as ${namespaceIdentifier} from ${fromFilePath};`,
             `export type { ${namespaceIdentifier} };`,
           ].join('\n')
 
-        if (moduleSuffix) {
-          return `export * as ${namespaceIdentifier} from './${p}/index${moduleSuffix}';`
-        }
-        return `export * as ${namespaceIdentifier} from './${p}';`
+        return `export * as ${namespaceIdentifier} from ${fromFilePath};`
       })
       .join('\n')