diff --git a/packages/cli/generators/openapi/spec-helper.js b/packages/cli/generators/openapi/spec-helper.js
index 0295eabce303..41846dca71b7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/generators/openapi/spec-helper.js
+++ b/packages/cli/generators/openapi/spec-helper.js
@@ -455,6 +455,13 @@ function buildControllerSpecs(operationsMapByController, options) {
     controllerSpec.methods = entry.operations.map(op =>
       buildMethodSpec(controllerSpec, op, options),
     );
+    // Track whether param and requestBody decorators are used
+    controllerSpec.usesParam = controllerSpec.methods.some(m =>
+      m.signature && m.signature.includes('@param('),
+    );
+    controllerSpec.usesRequestBody = controllerSpec.methods.some(m =>
+      m.signature && m.signature.includes('@requestBody('),
+    );
     controllerSpec.methodMappingObject = printSpecObject(
       controllerSpec.methodMapping,
     );
diff --git a/packages/cli/generators/openapi/templates/src/controllers/controller-template.ts.ejs b/packages/cli/generators/openapi/templates/src/controllers/controller-template.ts.ejs
index ed8dfc0c1e2a..f991f8a41b73 100644
--- a/packages/cli/generators/openapi/templates/src/controllers/controller-template.ts.ejs
+++ b/packages/cli/generators/openapi/templates/src/controllers/controller-template.ts.ejs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {api, operation, param, requestBody} from '@loopback/rest';<%if (withImplementation) { %>
+import {api, operation<% if (usesParam) { %>, param<% } %><% if (usesRequestBody) { %>, requestBody<% } %>} from '@loopback/rest';<%if (withImplementation) { %>
 import {inject} from '@loopback/core';
 
 import {<%- serviceClassName %>} from '../services';