diff --git a/rclpy/rclpy/guard_condition.py b/rclpy/rclpy/guard_condition.py
index 291f66f80..fb36923f6 100644
--- a/rclpy/rclpy/guard_condition.py
+++ b/rclpy/rclpy/guard_condition.py
@@ -12,13 +12,26 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+from typing import Callable, Optional, Protocol
+
+from rclpy.callback_groups import CallbackGroup
+from rclpy.context import Context
+from rclpy.destroyable import DestroyableType
 from rclpy.impl.implementation_singleton import rclpy_implementation as _rclpy
 from rclpy.utilities import get_default_context
 
 
+class GuardConditionHandle(DestroyableType, Protocol):
+
+    def trigger_guard_condition(self) -> None:
+        ...
+
+
 class GuardCondition:
 
-    def __init__(self, callback, callback_group, context=None):
+    def __init__(self, callback: Optional[Callable],
+                 callback_group: Optional[CallbackGroup],
+                 context: Optional[Context] = None) -> None:
         """
         Create a GuardCondition.
 
@@ -26,8 +39,12 @@ def __init__(self, callback, callback_group, context=None):
            should call :meth:`.Node.create_guard_condition`.
         """
         self._context = get_default_context() if context is None else context
+
+        if self._context.handle is None:
+            raise RuntimeError('Context must be initialized a GuardCondition can be created')
+
         with self._context.handle:
-            self.__gc = _rclpy.GuardCondition(self._context.handle)
+            self.__gc: GuardConditionHandle = _rclpy.GuardCondition(self._context.handle)
         self.callback = callback
         self.callback_group = callback_group
         # True when the callback is ready to fire but has not been "taken" by an executor
@@ -35,15 +52,15 @@ def __init__(self, callback, callback_group, context=None):
         # True when the executor sees this has been triggered but has not yet been handled
         self._executor_triggered = False
 
-    def trigger(self):
+    def trigger(self) -> None:
         with self.__gc:
             self.__gc.trigger_guard_condition()
 
     @property
-    def handle(self):
+    def handle(self) -> GuardConditionHandle:
         return self.__gc
 
-    def destroy(self):
+    def destroy(self) -> None:
         """
         Destroy a container for a ROS guard condition.