diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/AlertApi.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/AlertApi.ts
index d149940103..91641ac35b 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/AlertApi.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/AlertApi.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { createApiRef, ApiRef } from '../system';
 import { Observable } from '../../types';
 
 export type AlertMessage = {
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export type AlertApi = {
   alert$(): Observable<AlertMessage>;
 };
 
-export const alertApiRef = createApiRef<AlertApi>({
+export const alertApiRef: ApiRef<AlertApi> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.alert',
   description: 'Used to report alerts and forward them to the app',
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/AppThemeApi.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/AppThemeApi.ts
index 019aa2f496..515e8df082 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/AppThemeApi.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/AppThemeApi.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { ApiRef, createApiRef } from '../system';
 import { BackstageTheme } from '@backstage/theme';
 import { Observable } from '../../types';
 import { SvgIconProps } from '@material-ui/core';
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export type AppThemeApi = {
   setActiveThemeId(themeId?: string): void;
 };
 
-export const appThemeApiRef = createApiRef<AppThemeApi>({
+export const appThemeApiRef: ApiRef<AppThemeApi> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.apptheme',
   description: 'API Used to configure the app theme, and enumerate options',
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/ConfigApi.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/ConfigApi.ts
index 6d34055f05..2ce972af0e 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/ConfigApi.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/ConfigApi.ts
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { ApiRef, createApiRef } from '../system';
 import { Config } from '@backstage/config';
 
 // Using interface to make the ConfigApi name show up in docs
 export type ConfigApi = Config;
 
-export const configApiRef = createApiRef<ConfigApi>({
+export const configApiRef: ApiRef<ConfigApi> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.config',
   description: 'Used to access runtime configuration',
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/DiscoveryApi.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/DiscoveryApi.ts
index 13ead7b929..9777835ec8 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/DiscoveryApi.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/DiscoveryApi.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { ApiRef, createApiRef } from '../system';
 
 /**
  * The discovery API is used to provide a mechanism for plugins to
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export type DiscoveryApi = {
   getBaseUrl(pluginId: string): Promise<string>;
 };
 
-export const discoveryApiRef = createApiRef<DiscoveryApi>({
+export const discoveryApiRef: ApiRef<DiscoveryApi> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.discovery',
   description: 'Provides service discovery of backend plugins',
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/ErrorApi.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/ErrorApi.ts
index 365f59f4a3..edd6966968 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/ErrorApi.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/ErrorApi.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { ApiRef, createApiRef } from '../system';
 import { Observable } from '../../types';
 
 /**
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export type ErrorApi = {
   error$(): Observable<{ error: Error; context?: ErrorContext }>;
 };
 
-export const errorApiRef = createApiRef<ErrorApi>({
+export const errorApiRef: ApiRef<ErrorApi> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.error',
   description: 'Used to report errors and forward them to the app',
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/FeatureFlagsApi.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/FeatureFlagsApi.ts
index 0b7cddfe15..6e8c8cd8fc 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/FeatureFlagsApi.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/FeatureFlagsApi.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { ApiRef, createApiRef } from '../system';
 import { UserFlags, FeatureFlagsRegistry } from '../../app/FeatureFlags';
 import { FeatureFlagName } from '../../plugin';
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export interface FeatureFlagsRegistryItem {
   name: FeatureFlagName;
 }
 
-export const featureFlagsApiRef = createApiRef<FeatureFlagsApi>({
+export const featureFlagsApiRef: ApiRef<FeatureFlagsApi> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.featureflags',
   description: 'Used to toggle functionality in features across Backstage',
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/IdentityApi.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/IdentityApi.ts
index 87dc4ca989..5cfc4723e0 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/IdentityApi.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/IdentityApi.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { ApiRef, createApiRef } from '../system';
 import { ProfileInfo } from './auth';
 
 /**
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export type IdentityApi = {
   signOut(): Promise<void>;
 };
 
-export const identityApiRef = createApiRef<IdentityApi>({
+export const identityApiRef: ApiRef<IdentityApi> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.identity',
   description: 'Provides access to the identity of the signed in user',
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/OAuthRequestApi.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/OAuthRequestApi.ts
index 7bbebf90c1..7514a88dc1 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/OAuthRequestApi.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/OAuthRequestApi.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 import { IconComponent } from '../../icons';
 import { Observable } from '../../types';
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { ApiRef, createApiRef } from '../system';
 
 /**
  * Information about the auth provider that we're requesting a login towards.
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ export type OAuthRequestApi = {
   authRequest$(): Observable<PendingAuthRequest[]>;
 };
 
-export const oauthRequestApiRef = createApiRef<OAuthRequestApi>({
+export const oauthRequestApiRef: ApiRef<OAuthRequestApi> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.oauthrequest',
   description: 'An API for implementing unified OAuth flows in Backstage',
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/StorageApi.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/StorageApi.ts
index 923633318b..d0f71ea3a4 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/StorageApi.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/StorageApi.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { ApiRef, createApiRef } from '../system';
 import { Observable } from '../../types';
 import { ErrorApi } from './ErrorApi';
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export interface StorageApi {
   observe$<T>(key: string): Observable<StorageValueChange<T>>;
 }
 
-export const storageApiRef = createApiRef<StorageApi>({
+export const storageApiRef: ApiRef<StorageApi> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.storage',
   description: 'Provides the ability to store data which is unique to the user',
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/auth.ts b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/auth.ts
index 5ffe312591..946baeabd9 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/auth.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/apis/definitions/auth.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { createApiRef } from '../system';
+import { ApiRef, createApiRef } from '../system';
 import { Observable } from '../../types';
 
 /**
@@ -212,13 +212,13 @@ export type SessionApi = {
  * Note that the ID token payload is only guaranteed to contain the user's numerical Google ID,
  * email and expiration information. Do not rely on any other fields, as they might not be present.
  */
-export const googleAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
+export const googleAuthApiRef: ApiRef<
   OAuthApi &
     OpenIdConnectApi &
     ProfileInfoApi &
     BackstageIdentityApi &
     SessionApi
->({
+> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.auth.google',
   description: 'Provides authentication towards Google APIs and identities',
 });
@@ -229,9 +229,9 @@ export const googleAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
  * See https://developer.github.com/apps/building-oauth-apps/understanding-scopes-for-oauth-apps/
  * for a full list of supported scopes.
  */
-export const githubAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
+export const githubAuthApiRef: ApiRef<
   OAuthApi & ProfileInfoApi & BackstageIdentityApi & SessionApi
->({
+> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.auth.github',
   description: 'Provides authentication towards GitHub APIs',
 });
@@ -242,13 +242,13 @@ export const githubAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
  * See https://developer.okta.com/docs/guides/implement-oauth-for-okta/scopes/
  * for a full list of supported scopes.
  */
-export const oktaAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
+export const oktaAuthApiRef: ApiRef<
   OAuthApi &
     OpenIdConnectApi &
     ProfileInfoApi &
     BackstageIdentityApi &
     SessionApi
->({
+> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.auth.okta',
   description: 'Provides authentication towards Okta APIs',
 });
@@ -259,9 +259,9 @@ export const oktaAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
  * See https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/profile/personal_access_tokens.html#limiting-scopes-of-a-personal-access-token
  * for a full list of supported scopes.
  */
-export const gitlabAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
+export const gitlabAuthApiRef: ApiRef<
   OAuthApi & ProfileInfoApi & BackstageIdentityApi & SessionApi
->({
+> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.auth.gitlab',
   description: 'Provides authentication towards GitLab APIs',
 });
@@ -272,9 +272,9 @@ export const gitlabAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
  * See https://auth0.com/docs/scopes/current/oidc-scopes
  * for a full list of supported scopes.
  */
-export const auth0AuthApiRef = createApiRef<
+export const auth0AuthApiRef: ApiRef<
   OpenIdConnectApi & ProfileInfoApi & BackstageIdentityApi & SessionApi
->({
+> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.auth.auth0',
   description: 'Provides authentication towards Auth0 APIs',
 });
@@ -286,13 +286,13 @@ export const auth0AuthApiRef = createApiRef<
  * - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/v2-permissions-and-consent
  * - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/permissions-reference
  */
-export const microsoftAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
+export const microsoftAuthApiRef: ApiRef<
   OAuthApi &
     OpenIdConnectApi &
     ProfileInfoApi &
     BackstageIdentityApi &
     SessionApi
->({
+> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.auth.microsoft',
   description: 'Provides authentication towards Microsoft APIs and identities',
 });
@@ -300,13 +300,13 @@ export const microsoftAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
 /**
  * Provides authentication for custom identity providers.
  */
-export const oauth2ApiRef = createApiRef<
+export const oauth2ApiRef: ApiRef<
   OAuthApi &
     OpenIdConnectApi &
     ProfileInfoApi &
     BackstageIdentityApi &
     SessionApi
->({
+> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.auth.oauth2',
   description: 'Example of how to use oauth2 custom provider',
 });
@@ -314,9 +314,9 @@ export const oauth2ApiRef = createApiRef<
 /**
  * Provides authentication for saml based identity providers
  */
-export const samlAuthApiRef = createApiRef<
+export const samlAuthApiRef: ApiRef<
   ProfileInfoApi & BackstageIdentityApi & SessionApi
->({
+> = createApiRef({
   id: 'core.auth.saml',
   description: 'Example of how to use SAML custom provider',
 });