diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 803ad0c8..300f4933 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ __pycache__/
 *~≈
 .env
 .envrc
-.python-version
 .idea
 .pytest_cache
 
diff --git a/.python-version b/.python-version
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..455808f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.python-version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+3.12.4
diff --git a/rembg/bg.py b/rembg/bg.py
index 76ebb1c8..431636b9 100644
--- a/rembg/bg.py
+++ b/rembg/bg.py
@@ -241,13 +241,13 @@ def remove(
     """
     if isinstance(data, bytes) or force_return_bytes:
         return_type = ReturnType.BYTES
-        img = Image.open(io.BytesIO(cast(bytes, data)))
+        img = cast(PILImage, Image.open(io.BytesIO(cast(bytes, data))))
     elif isinstance(data, PILImage):
         return_type = ReturnType.PILLOW
-        img = data
+        img = cast(PILImage, data)
     elif isinstance(data, np.ndarray):
         return_type = ReturnType.NDARRAY
-        img = Image.fromarray(data)
+        img = cast(PILImage, Image.fromarray(data))
     else:
         raise ValueError(
             "Input type {} is not supported. Try using force_return_bytes=True to force python bytes output".format(