diff --git a/src/crewai/utilities/planning_handler.py b/src/crewai/utilities/planning_handler.py
index 1b990c81c..3bcfc8c81 100644
--- a/src/crewai/utilities/planning_handler.py
+++ b/src/crewai/utilities/planning_handler.py
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ class CrewPlanner:
                     extra_headers=getattr(agent_llm, "extra_headers", None)
                 )
             else:
-                self.planning_agent_llm = "gpt-4o-mini"
+                from crewai.llm import LLM
+                self.planning_agent_llm = LLM(model="gpt-4o-mini")
         else:
             self.planning_agent_llm = planning_agent_llm
 
diff --git a/tests/utilities/test_planning_auth/test_planning_auth_inheritance.py b/tests/utilities/test_planning_auth/test_planning_auth_inheritance.py
index b38cd8489..8cb445d0b 100644
--- a/tests/utilities/test_planning_auth/test_planning_auth_inheritance.py
+++ b/tests/utilities/test_planning_auth/test_planning_auth_inheritance.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 from crewai import Task
 from crewai.utilities.planning_handler import CrewPlanner
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 
 def test_planning_llm_inherits_auth_params():
     """Test that planning LLM inherits authentication parameters from agent LLM."""