diff --git a/.changeset/twelve-oranges-breathe.md b/.changeset/twelve-oranges-breathe.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..58ee1b76ad9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/twelve-oranges-breathe.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@graphql-codegen/client-preset': patch
+---
+
+Resolve runtime error when using the babel plugin within an ESM environment.
diff --git a/packages/presets/client/src/babel.ts b/packages/presets/client/src/babel.ts
index 167564b8c11..1f1cb98da0b 100644
--- a/packages/presets/client/src/babel.ts
+++ b/packages/presets/client/src/babel.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ export default declare<ClientBabelPresetOptions>((api, opts): PluginObj => {
 
         const importPath = getRelativeImportPath(state, artifactDirectory);
 
-        const importDeclaration = template(`
+        const importDeclaration = template.smart(`
           import { %%importName%% } from %%importPath%%
         `);
         program.unshiftContainer(